Nigeria Begins German-funded Study On Hydrogen Potentials, Production

Stakeholders have called for a common pathway to exploiting Nigeria’s potential to produce Green Hydrogen, as global demand for the clean energy source likely to climax at about 700 million metric tons (MT) by the year 2050.

Speaking at the Kick-off Meeting/Stakeholders’ Interaction on the Nigeria4H2 Project, the stakeholders agreed that harnessing green would be beneficial to Nigeria in bridging the high energy deficit, boost food security through enhanced fertiliser production among other benefits.

Although one of Africa’s top producers of oil and gas, Nigeria still has a high rate of energy poverty with only 45 per cent of the country’s population connected to the energy grid. Electricity access as a percentage of the population is 59.5 per cent, implying about 40 per cent lack access to electricity. Thus, generators that run on diesel, gas, and petrol are relied on to generate electricity by the populace. In recent times, electricity generated from solar power in Nigeria is gaining traction (with about 50 gigawatt-hours generated in 2022).

Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Nigeria4H2 Project, seeks to investigate the potential for green hydrogen and the enabling framework for the manufacture of fertilisers (ammonia) based on green hydrogen and define a path for an acceptable transition in Nigeria.

With a budget of €342,700 Euros, (about N350 million),  the study is expected to last four months and cuts across participants from academia, research organisations, government among other.

In his remarks, minister of state, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the prospect for synergy between conventional and sustainable energy is vast, and the country must seize this opportunity to diversify its energy portfolio.

“Nigeria, endowed with rich oil and gas resources, stands poised to emerge as an industrialised nation with a proven gas reserve of 208 trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) and the implementation of appropriate policies and regulations to enhance the utilisation of these resources.

“The country has embraced its gas resources as its transition fuel, aligning with its vision to declare 2021 – 2030 as the decade of gas in Nigeria. As the world shifts towards sustainable energy solutions, Nigeria is open to exploring opportunities in hydrogen.”

Ekpo called for a roadmap that not only ensures the sustainability of the energy sector but also positions Nigeria as a key player in hydrogen technologies.

He said the future of Nigeria’s energy sector lies in the balance between maintaining the resilience of its oil and gas sector and fostering the growth of green technologies.

Also speaking, minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, said the global demand for hydrogen will likely climax at about 700 million metric tons (MT) by the year 2050, with annual hydrogen production projected to increase by 9.2 per cent annually until 2030.

He said there is no better time for Nigeria to plug into this opportunity to avoid playing catch-up with the Western world.

“As a country, Nigeria must play a critical and leading role in the global energy transition.

“Nigeria enjoys abundant sunshine, with an average of 11 hours of sun daily, hence, has immense solar radiation potential to power electrolyzers for hydrogen production. This potential makes Nigeria a critical stakeholder in the world energy transition,” Nnaji said.

Executive director of West African Centre of Excellence in combating Climate Change, Land Use (WASCAL) Prof. Kehinde Ogunjobi the  said agency recognises the need for innovative solutions that address both energy and agricultural challenges, in pursuit of sustainable development and the fight against climate change.

According to him, green hydrogen, derived from renewable sources, has emerged as a solution in this endeavour. “That is why, today, our focus lies on the application of green hydrogen in the production of fertiliser, a cornerstone of agricultural productivity and food security in Nigeria. This union of energy and agriculture holds the potential to revolutionise Nigeria’s economic landscape,” he said.