Company Aims to Build Africa's First Hydrogen Power Center by 2024
2022-09-19
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1A French power producer expects to its hydrogen energy power station in Namibia to produce electricity by 2024.
2A top company official for HDF Energy announced the plan for the southern African country recently.
3The hydrogen power plant in Namibia would be Africa's first.
4The Swakopmund project is expected to cost about $181 million.
5Once operational, the company said, it will supply electrical power, 24 hours a day, throughout the year.
6It will increase the electricity supply to Namibia, which imports 40 percent of its power from neighboring South Africa.
7Namibia is one of the world's sunniest and least densely populated countries.
8It wants to be able to use its great potential for solar and wind energy to produce "green" hydrogen power.
9And Namibia wants to become a renewable energy center in Africa.
10Hydrogen power is considered "green" when it is made with renewable power.
11And it is seen as an important way to reduce carbon-based fuels in the energy industry.
12However, the technology remains untried and costlier than other forms of power.
13The project will use solar panels able to produce 85 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
14They will power electrolyzers that produce hydrogen, which can be stored.
15Electrolyzers produce hydrogen by using electricity to separate hydrogen from oxygen in water.
16Nicolas Lecomte is HDF Energy director for southern Africa.
17He said, "Yearly we can produce 142 gigawatt hours, enough for 142,000 inhabitants and that is conservative."
18HDF Energy is also considering new projects across Africa and in other parts of the world.
19Lecomte told Reuters, "Soon after southern Africa, you will see HDF developing projects in east Africa."
20Another company is in talks with Namibia's government to secure an agreement for a planned hydrogen project.
21Hyphen Hydrogen Energy is registered in Namibia.
22It is proposing a $10 billion project to produce 350,000 tons of green hydrogen a year before 2030.
23It will be for markets near Namibia and around the world.
24European Union and Namibian officials said the EU also plans a deal with the country to support its green hydrogen industry.
25European nations are trying to reduce their dependence on Russian energy.
26The German government has already agreed to invest $41.8 million in Namibia's green hydrogen plan.
27And Belgian and Dutch companies are also operating in the country in that field.
28Obeth Kandjoze is director-general of Namibia's National Planning Commission.
29He said direct EU financial support was likely to be limited,
30but a financial deal could bring in other investors.
31I'm Caty Weaver.
1A French power producer expects to its hydrogen energy power station in Namibia to produce electricity by 2024. 2A top company official for HDF Energy announced the plan for the southern African country recently. The hydrogen power plant in Namibia would be Africa's first. 3The Swakopmund project is expected to cost about $181 million. Once operational, the company said, it will supply electrical power, 24 hours a day, throughout the year. It will increase the electricity supply to Namibia, which imports 40 percent of its power from neighboring South Africa. 4Namibia is one of the world's sunniest and least densely populated countries. It wants to be able to use its great potential for solar and wind energy to produce "green" hydrogen power. And Namibia wants to become a renewable energy center in Africa. 5Hydrogen power is considered "green" when it is made with renewable power. And it is seen as an important way to reduce carbon-based fuels in the energy industry. However, the technology remains untried and costlier than other forms of power. 6The project will use solar panels able to produce 85 megawatts (MW) of electricity. They will power electrolyzers that produce hydrogen, which can be stored. Electrolyzers produce hydrogen by using electricity to separate hydrogen from oxygen in water. 7Nicolas Lecomte is HDF Energy director for southern Africa. He said, "Yearly we can produce 142 gigawatt hours, enough for 142,000 inhabitants and that is conservative." 8HDF Energy is also considering new projects across Africa and in other parts of the world. 9Lecomte told Reuters, "Soon after southern Africa, you will see HDF developing projects in east Africa." 10Another company is in talks with Namibia's government to secure an agreement for a planned hydrogen project. Hyphen Hydrogen Energy is registered in Namibia. It is proposing a $10 billion project to produce 350,000 tons of green hydrogen a year before 2030. It will be for markets near Namibia and around the world. 11European Union investment 12European Union and Namibian officials said the EU also plans a deal with the country to support its green hydrogen industry. European nations are trying to reduce their dependence on Russian energy. 13The German government has already agreed to invest $41.8 million in Namibia's green hydrogen plan. And Belgian and Dutch companies are also operating in the country in that field. 14Obeth Kandjoze is director-general of Namibia's National Planning Commission. He said direct EU financial support was likely to be limited, but a financial deal could bring in other investors. 15I'm Caty Weaver. 16Gregory Stachel wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Reuters. 17___________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19potential - n. a chance or possibility that something will happen or exist in the future 20megawatt - n. a unit of electrical power equal to one million watts 21solar panel - n. a large, flat piece of equipment that uses the sun's light or heat to create electricity 22gigawatt - v. a unit of electrical power equal to one billion watts 23inhabitant - n. a person or animal that lives in a particular place 24___________________________________________________________________ 25What do you think of Sogavare's actions? 26We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 27Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.