Why Namibia's green energy dream could be a red flag for penguins

## Summary
Why Namibia's green energy dream could be a red flag for penguins 9 minutes ago Share Save Johannes Dell Lüderitz Share Save Getty Images Scientists have warned that the critically endangered African penguin could go extinct in the wild by 2035 A near pristine desert and coastal wilderness in Namibia could soon host a huge hydrogen production facility, raising hopes for jobs but also fears for the unique plant and animal life of the region, such as rare succulents and endangered African penguins. It is based in the port of Lüderitz, a sleepy backwater on the South Atlantic where fishing has been the backbone of the local economy for decades - but which is likely to face huge expansion if the hydrogen project gets the green light. "Where they plan to expand the port is a particularly bio-sensitive hotspot," Namcob's Neil Shaw says from his windswept office near a lagoon where flamingos feed. "That can have quite severe ramifications on the marine ecosystem that the penguins and other coastal birds rely on." Hyphen says it is doing all it can to minimise disturbance of crucial ecosystems, avoiding the most sensitive sites and leaving the smallest possible footprint. Full community engagement is essential, agrees Graham Hopwood of Namibia's Institute for Public Policy Research. "For the people of Lüderitz, this could vastly change the town, so they need to be involved." Some smaller green hydrogen projects have already got off the ground in Namibia. The African nation aiming to be a hydrogen superpower The ghost town that was abandoned when the diamonds ran out Namibia marks colonial genocide as reparations hang in the balance Getty Images/BBC Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

## Article Content
Why Namibia's green energy dream could be a red flag for penguins
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Johannes Dell
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Scientists have warned that the critically endangered African penguin could go extinct in the wild by 2035
A near pristine desert and coastal wilderness in Namibia could soon host a huge hydrogen production facility, raising hopes for jobs but also fears for the unique plant and animal life of the region, such as rare succulents and endangered African penguins.
It is part of the government's plan to become a green hydrogen superpower, exporting a clean-burning fuel that could help cut emissions elsewhere.
Hyphen, a joint venture led by the Germany-based green energy group Enertrag, says Namibia has the "world class" solar and wind power potential needed for large-scale, competitive production.
Hydrogen, a highly flammable gas that produces heat and water when it burns, can be used to refine petroleum and make chemicals, metals and fertilisers. It is usually produced with fossil fuels, however when renewable energy sources are used instead the hydrogen is labelled "green".
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The shifting sands of Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park have been off-limits for more than 100 years, allowing it to become a biodiversity hotspot
But the plan to build solar and wind farms in Namibia's Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park, which means "Soft Sands" in the Nama language, is not supported by conservationists.
The 26,000 sq km (10,000 sq mile) park was established in 2004 out of what was known as the "Sperrgebiet" - German for "Restricted Area" - a vast swathe of land sealed off by the German colonial authorities to protect their mining interests when diamonds were discovered there at the beginning of the 20th Century.
The diamond rush came and went - allowing a unique richness of flora and fauna to flourish undisturbed, which the Namibian Chamber of the Environment (NCE) says is now in danger.
Succulents in particular thrive in this unforgiving landscape using ingenious strategies to survive, from water storage to light reflection.
The NCE has issued a report suggesting
the project should be labelled "red hydrogen" as it risked driving many unique species on to the biodiversity "red list"
.
Its head, Chris Brown, puts it more bluntly, saying industrialised countries like Germany, which is actively supporting the green hydrogen projects, are applying double standards.
"The Germans would never allow their top parks to be turned into industrial sites," Brown says.
"But they seem to be quite happy to offshore not only the risk, but also the impacts on biodiversity to Namibia. And we find that totally unacceptable."
This part of the coast belongs to the Namibian Islands' Marine Protected Area, a 400km (250 mile) stretch home to the critically endangered African penguins.
The Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (Namcob) has also raised the alarm.
It is based in the port of Lüderitz, a sleepy backwater on the South Atlantic where fishing has been the backbone of the local economy for decades - but which is likely to face huge expansion if the hydrogen project gets the green light.
"Where they plan to expand the port is a particularly bio-sensitive hotspot," Namcob's Neil Shaw says from his windswept office near a lagoon where flamingos feed.
"That can have quite severe ramifications on the marine ecosystem that the penguins and other coastal birds rely on."
Hyphen says it is doing all it can to minimise disturbance of crucial ecosystems, avoiding the most sensitive sites and leaving the smallest possible footprint.
According to Toni Beukes - head of environment, social and governance for Hyphen - impact assessments are under way and the park is the best possible place for their plans.
"The south is where you have a co-location of fantastic wind and solar resources. Namibia has to compete with other projects globally and that's where your competitive advantage lies," she told me.
Getty Images
Getty Images
This 55m natural rock formation, known as Bogenfels, is in the former forbidden zone, now Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park...
The area is also renowned for its succulents, which have developed ingenious strategies to survive
Although the project is still in the feasibility stage, the proposed investment is already having an impact in Lüderitz, according to Phil Balhao, the mayor of the town until last year.
"We're seeing new investments, new opportunities, new services and amenities that never would have come down to Lüderitz," he says.
And jobs are badly needed given Namibia's official youth unemployment rate of 44%.
The scope of the project, in which the Namibian government has a 24% stake, is huge.
Hyphen says it hopes to initially produce 3.75 gigawatts of renewable electricity, enough to power almost 400 million LED bulbs.
The electricity would then power electrolysers, the technology that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.
And as hydrogen is hard to transport, pipelines would carry

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Namibia has to compete with other projects globally and that's where your competitive advantage lies," she told me.

### Areas for Consideration
- Its head, Chris Brown, puts it more bluntly, saying industrialised countries like Germany, which is actively supporting the green hydrogen projects, are applying double standards. "The Germans would never allow their top parks to be turned into industrial sites," Brown says. "But they seem to be quite happy to offshore not only the risk, but also the impacts on biodiversity to Namibia.

### Implications
- Why Namibia's green energy dream could be a red flag for penguins 9 minutes ago Share Save Johannes Dell Lüderitz Share Save Getty Images Scientists have warned that the critically endangered African penguin could go extinct in the wild by 2035 A near pristine desert and coastal wilderness in Namibia could soon host a huge hydrogen production facility, raising hopes for jobs but also fears for the unique plant and animal life of the region, such as rare succulents and endangered African penguins.
- It is part of the government's plan to become a green hydrogen superpower, exporting a clean-burning fuel that could help cut emissions elsewhere.
- The NCE has issued a report suggesting the project should be labelled "red hydrogen" as it risked driving many unique species on to the biodiversity "red list" .
- According to Toni Beukes - head of environment, social and governance for Hyphen - impact assessments are under way and the park is the best possible place for their plans. "The south is where you have a co-location of fantastic wind and solar resources.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers namibia, hydrogen, hyphen topics. Notable strengths include discussion of namibia. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1357.