Alex Akolo

The emergency of climate action and dwindling fossil fuel reserves has given rise to an urgent need for countries to diversify their energy production sources. It is these efforts towards diversification that have led to the unprecedented momentum that hydrogen is gaining around the world. A report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) finds that green hydrogen will translate to 8 per cent of global energy consumption by 2050. However, what are the prospects for hydrogen generation and adoption in Nigeria?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines hydrogen as a nonmetallic gaseous chemical element with atomic number one, the simplest and lightest of the elements and primarily used in the processing of fossil fuels and the synthesis of ammonia. Studies on hydrogen have proven that it has the potential to become a global energy solution. According to the future of hydrogen reports, demand for hydrogen has grown more than threefold since 1975 and continues to rise.

For many African countries like Nigeria, reducing the carbon footprint is not the only reason to adopt alternative energy sources. Another foremost challenge is finding viable ways to close the electricity access gaps created by unreliable grid supplies. As a result, several countries on the continent are looking towards exploring hydrogen to cut their dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate efforts towards electricity access for all.

Green hydrogen is the best form of this promising alternative fuel for the energy industry. The electricity created in a fuel cell from hydrogen can serve various purposes, including providing heat for automobiles and aircraft. The benefit of employing hydrogen as an energy source is that water and heat are the only by-products of its reaction with oxygen.

African countries have begun adopting hydrogen as a source of energy. For instance, In October 2021, the South African government took a step toward unlocking this potential by conducting a feasibility study to establish a hydrogen valley in partnership with Anglo American Platinum, Bambili Energy, and Energie SA. The study seeks to identify the potential of hydrogen projects across the transport, industrial, and construction sectors. In addition, Egypt is spearheading the development of the largest global hydrogen project to promote hydrogen as feedstock for green ammonia production.

However, minimal efforts have been channelled towards hydrogen generation and adoption in Nigeria. The 2014 National Energy Master Plan (NEMP) mentions the exploitation of hydrogen as an energy source and lays out an action plan to achieve this. However, implementation is a challenge. The first step in easing the implementation process will be creating policies that hasten and encourage performance while laying out precise timetables. Getting private sector engagement is also crucial to support this master plan.

Nigeria launched its Energy Transition Plan to reduce carbon emissions, which commits to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. Nevertheless, accomplishing this requires adopting alternative fuels like hydrogen.

Furthermore, hydrogen generation and adoption in Nigeria will require investments and cautious attention to the socioeconomic realities and trade-offs involved. It will also require participation and commitment by public and private stakeholders, businesses, and individuals in creating technologies that can further improve solutions and reduce costs across the value chain. A possible future of hydrogen generation and adoption in Nigeria presents many benefits for the country. By leveraging on the vast renewable resources in the region, Nigeria can produce and export hydrogen and utilize it to meet its power deficits whilst reducing its carbon footprint.