As the world debates sustainable development beyond 2030, many Africans ask: transition from what, and to what? For Europe, the green transition is understandably framed through decarbonisation, energy security and industrial competitiveness. For Namibia, and much of Africa, it remains a transition from exclusion to participation, and from resources to prosperity.
RWE and Hyphen explore offtake of green ammonia from Namibia
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The Cost Curve Doesn’t Lie: Why Green Molecules Still Win
Three years ago, Namibia was being talked about as the next great green energy frontier. A sparsely populated country with world-class sun and wind poised to become a green hydrogen superpower. Since then, the mood has cooled. Financial close on large-scale projects is taking longer, due to slower market demand ramp-up and geopolitical headwinds. Has the opportunity come and gone for Namibia?
It hasn’t. The scale-up has been slower than the early hype promised, but the underlying fundamentals that position Namibia as a major emerging supplier remain unchanged. If anything, it has strengthened. To understand why, it helps to look for the signal amongst the market noise, to the direction that the global energy system is actually heading.
Namibia-Germany Enterprise and Supplier Development Mission
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy has concluded the Namibia-Germany Enterprise and Supplier Development Mission, a seven-day programme designed to connect Namibian businesses and training institutions with German technical, industrial and training partners.
Hyphen Facilitates High-Level Engagement Between Her Excellency President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Chinese Industrial Giant CC7
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen) has successfully facilitated and concluded a high-level strategic engagement for Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, and her high-ranking ministerial delegation. The engagement in Chengdu, China, was held with China National Chemical Engineering Corporation 7 (CC7), a key subsidiary of the state-owned China National Chemical Engineering Corporation (CNCEC).
Essen/Windhoek, 2 December 2022
- From 2027, up to 300,000 tons of ammonia could be supplied annually
RWE and Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen) have signed a memorandum of understanding that could see RWE offtake up to 300,000 tons of green ammonia* per year from Namibia.
Hyphen was appointed preferred bidder by the Namibian government to develop the first green hydrogen project in Namibia for export. By 2027 the project aims to annually produce 1.7 million tons of green ammonia – a hydrogen derivative that is particularly suitable for transport by ship. German renewable energy project developer Enertrag is a joint venture partner of Hyphen.
RWE is committed to develop a globally diversified portfolio of long-term offtake agreements for green hydrogen and its derivatives, such as ammonia. In this context RWE has announced in March its plan to build a terminal for green ammonia in Brunsbüttel (Germany) by 2026. This terminal could serve as one port of destination for Namibian ammonia.
Marco Raffinetti, CEO of Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, said: “We are delighted to reach this agreement with RWE. This milestone underpins our ambitious targets to export green hydrogen globally from Namibia. By establishing strong connections with policymakers and offtakers across Europe, we are working with the Government of Namibia to develop the industry which will spearhead southern Africa’s role in achieving regional and global decarbonisation goals.”
Ulf Kerstin, Chief Commercial Officer of RWE Supply & Trading said: “Green molecules are the only way for many industries in Germany to achieve their climate targets. In the long term, Germany’s demand for them will have to be met mainly through imports. That’s why we’re looking forward to progressing the offtake discussions with Hyphen – to bring green ammonia from Namibia to Germany.”
* Information on ammonia:
Ammonia is one of the most common basic materials in the chemical industry. More than 180 million tons are produced annually worldwide and processed into fertilisers in agriculture or used in chemical processes, among other things. It is already shipped globally today. In order to make ammonia “green”, fossil energy such as natural gas must be replaced by electricity from renewable energy sources during its production. Ammonia has clear advantages over hydrogen, which is used throughout the molecular chain: It is easier, more efficient and cheaper to store and transport.
| For further enquiries: | Olaf Winter
Media Relations RWE Supply & Trading GmbH M +49 152 09295371
|
FTI Consulting
Christopher Laing T +44 (0)780 923 4126 Kelly Smith T +44 7811 489210 |
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The Green Transition from where we stand: A Namibian development and justice agenda that must also solve climate
As the world debates sustainable development beyond 2030, many Africans ask: transition from what, and to what? For Europe, the green transition is understandably framed through decarbonisation, energy security and industrial competitiveness. For Namibia, and much of Africa, it remains a transition from exclusion to participation, and from resources to prosperity.
The Cost Curve Doesn’t Lie: Why Green Molecules Still Win
Three years ago, Namibia was being talked about as the next great green energy frontier. A sparsely populated country with world-class sun and wind poised to become a green hydrogen superpower. Since then, the mood has cooled. Financial close on large-scale projects is taking longer, due to slower market demand ramp-up and geopolitical headwinds. Has the opportunity come and gone for Namibia?
It hasn’t. The scale-up has been slower than the early hype promised, but the underlying fundamentals that position Namibia as a major emerging supplier remain unchanged. If anything, it has strengthened. To understand why, it helps to look for the signal amongst the market noise, to the direction that the global energy system is actually heading.
Namibia-Germany Enterprise and Supplier Development Mission
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy has concluded the Namibia-Germany Enterprise and Supplier Development Mission, a seven-day programme designed to connect Namibian businesses and training institutions with German technical, industrial and training partners.
Hyphen Facilitates High-Level Engagement Between Her Excellency President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Chinese Industrial Giant CC7
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen) has successfully facilitated and concluded a high-level strategic engagement for Her Excellency Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President of the Republic of Namibia, and her high-ranking ministerial delegation. The engagement in Chengdu, China, was held with China National Chemical Engineering Corporation 7 (CC7), a key subsidiary of the state-owned China National Chemical Engineering Corporation (CNCEC).
