Ammonium Sulfate fertilizers from renewable hydrogen
The project aims to revolutionize fertilizer production in Namibia, creating the first end-to-end green synthetic fertilizer solution by using renewable energy sources and green hydrogen. As a pioneering initiative, this project plays a crucial role in industrial decarbonization and sets a precedent for sustainable agricultural practices in Africa.
INITIATED
IN PROGRESS
CLOSING
Completed
Clean Hydrogen
Background
Namibia relies heavily on imported fertilizers, resulting in high economic costs and environmental impacts linked to conventional agricultural inputs. Fertilizer application rates in Sub-Saharan Africa are far below the global average, posing a challenge to agricultural productivity.
The Daures Green Hydrogen Village was initiated to address these issues by providing a locally produced, sustainable fertilizer alternative. By leveraging abundant renewable energy resources at the project site, green hydrogen and ammonia are produced and converted into green ammonium sulphate fertilizer. This process reduces emissions from conventional fertilizer production and aligns with global sustainability targets. In addition to decarbonizing agriculture, the project contributes to economic development in Namibia’s agricultural sector and creates the potential for scaled-up industrial production.
Transformational innovation
At the core of this demonstration project is the use of green hydrogen, generated via electrolysis powered by solar energy. This clean hydrogen is used to synthesize ammonia, a key component of ammonium sulfate fertilizer. By replacing traditional fossil fuel-based production processes with green hydrogen, the project significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, improves energy efficiency, and promotes circular economy principles.
The technology employed in this initiative is not yet widely adopted, making this project a groundbreaking example of how clean energy can transform agriculture.
Objectives
The main goals of the Daures Green Hydrogen Village project include:
Establishing the first local production of green fertilizers in Namibia
Demonstrating the feasibility and scalability of renewable energy-based fertilizer production
Producing green hydrogen and green ammonia
Enabling carbon-free green agriculture
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural supply chain
Enhancing the productivity of local farmers through improved fertilizer availability and affordability
Empowering communities through job creation and capacity building in clean technology
Expected impacts
The Daures Green Hydrogen Village project delivers key environmental, social, and economic benefits:
Environmental: By producing fertilizers from renewable green hydrogen, the project significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and mitigates reliance on carbon-intensive fertilizer imports. It supports cleaner agriculture practices, enhancing soil health and biodiversity.
Social: The initiative includes community engagement through local ownership, allowing residents to benefit directly. Training programs for farmers aim to enhance sustainable agricultural practices, improving food security and local livelihoods.
Economic: The project will create jobs in construction and operations, promoting local economic development. By evidencing fertilizer production locally, it will lower costs for farmers, decrease dependency on imports, stimulate growth in the agricultural sector, enhancing overall economic resilience in Namibia while providing an opportunity to scale up production to meet local and international fertilizer needs.
About the lead organization
The Daures Green Hydrogen Village, is an innovative project located in Namibia's Daures Constituency. Its mission is to harness the abundant renewable energy resources in the region to produce low-carbon green hydrogen, green ammonia, and green ammonium sulfate fertilizers. The project will also produce carbon free green agriculture.
This initiative not only addresses the critical issue of low fertilizer application rates in Sub-Saharan Africa but also aims to drive sustainable economic growth by creating local jobs and fostering community development evidenced by the 10% shareholding held by local community groups in the project.
The project integrates renewable energy technology for fertilizer production, thereby positioning Namibia as a leader in sustainable innovation. By providing affordable access to clean energy and environmentally friendly fertilizers, it aims to enhance agricultural productivity, while contributing to the broader goals of economic development in the region.
About the project partners
Enersense Energy Namibia is an energy firm based in Namibia. The firm is 100% Namibian owned and the lead developer for the Daures Green Hydrogen Village and responsible for its operations.
Mondjila Project Advisory & Management bring extensive project management expertise in complex projects, ensuring effective coordination of various project phases and stakeholder engagement. The firm implements an ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management approach to all projects.
Windhoek Consulting Engineers (WCE) provides engineering support, including feasibility studies and technical designs. Their previous experience with Phase 1 of the Daures Green Hydrogen Village's clean hydrogen and ammonia production confirms their technical capability to ensure the project's success.
Fichtner GmbH is an independent engineering and consultancy firm that is active worldwide in the energy, environmental protection, water and infrastructure sectors. The firm will serve as a key technical consultant on the project.
Beneficiaries
The Daures Green Hydrogen Village project benefits multiple stakeholders, particularly local communities, farmers, and regional agricultural sectors.
The project includes a community shareholding structure, granting the Daures Daman Traditional Authority and the Tsiseb Conservancy a 10% ownership stake. This empowers the community groups and promotes active participation in the project’s development.
By producing sustainable ammonium sulfate fertilizers locally, the project addresses the high costs and supply issues of imported fertilizers. This access improves crop yields and soil health, directly enhancing food security and agricultural productivity.
Job creation during both the construction and operational phases stimulates local economic growth. The project serves as a replicable model for other regions and countries showcasing how renewable energy initiatives can drive inclusive sustainability and economic resilience.
The Daures Green Hydrogen Village project contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably:
SDG 2: Zero Hunger - By producing green ammonium sulfate fertilizers, the project supports soil fertility and higher crop yields. During the pilot phase, 10% of the produced fertilizer will be donated, and training on application techniques will be provided to local farmers.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure - The project introduces technological innovation in green hydrogen and fertilizer production, advancing sustainable industrial practices and infrastructure development.
SDG 13: Climate Action – The use of renewable energy significantly reduces emissions from fertilizer production. Green hydrogen-based fertilizers offer a sustainable alternative to traditional fertilizers with high carbon footprints.
Additional benefits include creating job opportunities one of Namibia’s poorest communities during both construction and operations. The project emphasizes community engagement and capacity building, ensuring broad social and economic impacts. By setting an example of sustainable development, the project also serves as a model that can be replicated in other developing countries. Overall, the Daures Green Hydrogen Village aims to drive transformative change while aligning with global sustainability goals.
Additional resources
- https://daures.green/about-us/
- https://na.linkedin.com/company/daures-green-hydrogen-village
- https://www.youtube.com/@DauresGreenHydrogenVillage
- https://neweralive.na/daures-green-hydrogen-village-to-rise/
- https://economist.com.na/94802/agriculture/daures-green-hydrogen-village-achieves-first-successful-harvest/
- https://economist.com.na/75645/mining-energy/daures-green-hydrogen-village-launched-produced-hydrogen-green-ammonia-to-be-used-for-local-consumption-on-the-project-site/
Project Key Information
Lead organization
The Daures Green Hydrogen Village
Consortium partners
- Enersense Energy Namibia
- Mondjila Project Advisory and Management
- Windhoek Consulting Engineers (WCE)
- Fichtner GmbH
Duration
01 Feb 2025 - 31 Dec 2027
Location
Namibia
Thematic area
Clean Hydrogen
Stage
Initiated
Website
www.daures.green
Call
1st Call for Proposals
Follow Us
Critical Minerals
Industrial Decarbonization
Smart Energy