Germany and Nigeria join forces to promote low-carbon hydrogen

The German Embassy in Nigeria and the German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office have collaborated to promote low-carbon hydrogen as a key piece for a just energy transition.

The offices hosted a dialogue titled ‘Low-Carbon Hydrogen: A Key Piece for a Just Transition’ at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2023) in Abuja. The event showcased the potential of low-carbon hydrogen for economic growth, industrialisation and a sustainable future.

According to the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther, the global energy sector is transitioning from oil to gas and from gas to hydrogen and other renewable energy sources. The Nigerian International Petroleum Summit has been renamed the Energy Summit, indicating the shift towards non-traditional sources of energy.

Markus Wagner, the GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS country director, highlighted that the nascent low-carbon hydrogen economy and its associated industries held the promise of economic growth and industrialisation, along with added-value creation, decent job generation, infrastructure development, and increased access to affordable low-carbon energy.

The Nigerian government is keen to explore the possibilities that the nascent hydrogen economy could create for its energy sector. Gabriel Aduda, the permanent secretary at the ministry of petroleum resources, emphasised how low-carbon hydrogen fitted into the 2023 edition of the NIES theme, which was motivated by the foreseen changes in the fossil fuel segment as the world pursued the energy transition agenda.

Salisu Dahiru, the National Council on Climate Change’s director-general, applauded the collaboration between Germany and Nigeria and anticipated further cooperation in implementing Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, particularly in the area of low-carbon hydrogen.

The offices are financed by the Federal Foreign Office and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Low-carbon hydrogen is produced from water electrolysis using renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydropower. The process produces hydrogen without emitting carbon dioxide, which is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Low-carbon hydrogen has the potential to reduce emissions in the energy, transport, and industrial sectors, contributing to a sustainable future.

Despite the benefits of low-carbon hydrogen, challenges remain in scaling up its production and distribution, reducing costs, and ensuring the sustainability of the supply chain. The production of low-carbon hydrogen is still more expensive than conventional hydrogen production, which currently relies on natural gas.