Hyphen announces partnership with ILF
Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen) today unveiled a pivotal collaboration, having entered into a partnership agreement with ILF Consulting Engineers (ILF), an international engineering and consulting firm.This partnership is geared towards bolstering the realization of Hyphen's groundbreaking green hydrogen project.
In a synergistic effort, ILF will contribute project management services and specialised technical insight to drive forward Hyphen's venture in Namibia. Additionally, ILF will extend its proficiency in procurement and contract counsel. The partnership also entails ILF's implementation prowess, aligning with Hyphen's socio-economic development aspirations.
Evident in their extensive involvement in large-scale energy and pipeline undertakings, ILF brings substantial expertise to the table, with a global track record in hydrogen projects. Noteworthy achievements include overseeing project management for Canada's inaugural green hydrogen initiative, engineering a hydrogen pipeline network in Finland, and designing a hydrogen facility in Austria.
Commenting on the partnership, Marco Raffinetti, Hyphen’s chief executive, expressed enthusiasm about this stride towards positioning Namibia as a frontrunner in the realm of green hydrogen. He underscored ILF's invaluable experience in international hydrogen projects, underscoring their pivotal role in ensuring project timelines align with Namibia's developmental goals.
Raffinetti said that this partnership, coupled with their ongoing discussions with potential consortium collaborators, underscores the tremendous interest in Namibia from investors eyeing one of the world's most economically viable and advanced large-scale green hydrogen initiatives. “We anticipate a close collaboration with ILF in steering this transformative endeavour.”
Flagship initiative
Dr Michel Kneller, director of hydrogen at ILF, echoed the sentiment, expressing pride at being part of this significant flagship initiative. Kneller emphasised that their engineering and project management consultancy services would contribute directly to the energy transition. He reiterated the critical role hydrogen plays in reshaping our energy landscape and fostering a sustainable future.
Hyphen's project stands as one of the globe's most substantial green hydrogen initiatives, poised to revamp Namibia's energy systems while contributing to global markets. The goal is to produce one million tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2027, with subsequent plans to scale this up to two million tonnes by 2029, thereby reducing CO² emissions by 5 to 6 million tonnes annually. At maximum capacity, Hyphen's project could generate 350,000 tonnes of green hydrogen yearly.
Located within the Tsau // Khaeb National Park, this venture is set to serve as a blueprint for forthcoming green hydrogen undertakings on a global scale. Positioned as the initial stride in implementing the government's strategy to establish a large-scale green hydrogen sector in various regions of Namibia, this initiative is projected to infuse U$10 billion in investments, roughly equivalent to Namibia's annual GDP.
Anticipated outcomes include the creation of up to 15 000 jobs during the construction phase and an additional 3,000 permanent positions during the operational stages. The goal is for approximately 90% of these roles to be filled by Namibians. Hyphen's aim encompasses a 30% local procurement rate for goods, services, and materials throughout both construction and operation phases.