A pilot green hydrogen facility has been installed in Tema, Ghana, at the Don Bosco Solar and Renewable Energy Centre, where it would produce hydrogen using solar power and store it for on-demand electricity generation through a fuel cell system.
The project, dubbed Green Hydrogen for Decentralised Energy Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (GH2GH) essentially demonstrates decentralised green hydrogen technology in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This system, consisting of a 20 kW electrolyzer and a 10 kW fuel cell, will store excess solar energy as hydrogen. The system has an electrical storage capacity of 600 kWh.
The project, funded under the Export Initiative Environmental Protection of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of Germany, is aimed at demonstrating the potential of green hydrogen for decentralised energy systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
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The Sustainable Technologies Laboratory at Bochum University of Applied Sciences coordinated the research project, supporting the project together with the corporate partners, namely Green Power Brains, SFC Energy as well as the Don Bosco Solar and Renewable Energy Centre.
Exploring the potential
Giving an overview of the project at an event last Thursday, the Head of Sustainable Technologies Laboratory, Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Prof Semih Severengiz, said Green hydrogen, produced from solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, presents a promising solution in Ghana, where energy demands were increasing rapidly.
The green hydrogen production facility
He said the installation of the system at the pilot site at the Don Bosco Solar and Renewable Energy Centre would offer researchers the opportunity to explore the potential of producing green hydrogen which could be scaled up for sub-Saharan African countries.
“Our research work with the method of life cycle assessment has shown that we can save 90 per cent of emissions by avoiding the diesel generator through a hydrogen-based photovoltaic mini grid system.
So, it has a large impact on the greenhouse gas emission reduction strategy of Ghana in my view”
Infrastructure
A Senior Manager, Renewable Energy Regulations, at the Energy Commission Ghana, Julius Nkansah –Nyarko, said the project was not just an infrastructure but a bold step towards redefining how to generate, store and utilise energy sustainably.
He said globally efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change had never been more urgent, with countries setting their long-term low-emission development strategies, adding that while these commitments were largely driven by the increased use of renewable energy resources, global decarbonisation objectives were incomplete without solutions to mitigate carbon emissions from hard-to-abate sectors such as industry and transportation.
Mr Nkansah –Nyarko said in Ghana the government's commitment to green hydrogen was a testament to its dedication to sustainable development and energy security, and that through international partnerships and investing in innovative technologies, Ghana was not only keeping pace with global trends but positioning itself as a champion in Africa’s emerging green hydrogen economy.
Relevant
The German Ambassador to Ghana, Daniel Krull, described the project as very relevant in the context of climate change and underscored the need for the Energy Commission to speed up the setting up of a regulatory framework in the green hydrogen sector as it was the best solution for Ghana.
He reaffirmed his country's commitment to supporting Ghana’s efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change through renewable energy initiatives.
Fr. Krzysztof Nizniak of the Don Bosco Solar and Renewable Energy Centre commended the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of Germany and the consortium for choosing the institute for the pilot phase.
He was optimistic the facility would support the exchange of knowledge among the students and create valuable connections along the hydrogen value chain.
Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
