Unido backs Dâures Village’s green hydrogen production

The Dâures Green Hydrogen Village will receive funding and support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) to produce ammonium sulphate fertiliser.

Unido announced in a statement last week that the hydrogen village will be one of its first demonstration projects under the Accelerate to Demonstrate (A2D) facility, which aims to foster the adoption of green hydrogen technologies.

“This initiative aligns with global efforts to transition towards sustainable energy and industrial decarbonisation,” noted the statement.

Although the amount of funding support is not disclosed, Unido said this funding will be used to produce ammonium sulphate fertiliser, with the project to be completed by 2027.

“The project will result in the production of Namibia’s first carbon-free green fertiliser which will support growth and local industrialisation in the agricultural sector,” noted the statement.

Unido director general Gerd Müller, who officiated the launch of the A2D project in Austria last week said: “Today we are marking an important milestone. The A2D facility is demonstrating what is possible with new sustainable development solutions.

These first demonstration projects create scalable solutions where they are needed most.”

According to Unido, this low carbon alternative to traditional ammonia-based fertilisers supports more climate-friendly agriculture

“By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, green ammonia aligns with global climate goals and decreases the carbon footprint of agricultural practices,” said Unido.

Jerome Namaseb, chief executive of the Dâures Green Hydrogen Village, welcomes Unido’s support and says the funding will help the industrialisation and decarbonisation of the agricultural sector.

He says fertiliser application rates in Namibia are low, and locally-produced, low-carbon fertiliser could address this by providing a more affordable and accessible alternative to expensive imported synthetic options, enabling farmers to increase nutrient inputs without prohibitive costs.

According to Unido, the A2D facility is designed to support the development of innovative energy solutions by demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of green hydrogen in various industrial applications.

According to Unido, the first wave of projects will focus on several key areas including fertiliser production, as well as the storage and utilisation of green hydrogen, with an emphasis on collaboration among member states, private sectors and research institutions.
– email: matthew@namibian.com.na