French hydrogen power plants developer, HDF Energy, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) of Uganda for the development of a hydrogen power plant in Uganda.
The agreement was signed at the just ended United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Egypt by HDF’s Director for Southern and East Africa, Nicolas Lecomte, and Uganda’s Minister of Energy, Dr. Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu.
Under the agreement, HDF will develop the first Renewstable® power plant in Uganda. A Renewstable® power plant operates by combining a photovoltaic plant and mass storage of energy through a hydrogen chain, the green alternative to a classic diesel power plant as it only uses solar energy and water to produce stable electricity thus avoiding greenhouse emissions and noise.
Enabling Uganda to produce green hydrogen
The proposed first non-intermittent renewable energy power plant using hydrogen technology in Uganda is set to provide year-round supply for the equivalent of 24 hours a day and prefigures the future of renewable energies by eliminating their intermittency through hydrogen long term energy storage.
“The novelty of the Renewstable® power plant is such that political support is paramount to enable a first project, and the reforms to be conducted. Our cooperation with the Ministry on a first project in Uganda aims at, amongst other objectives, working jointly on a practical case to inform the local regulation, as well as creating an enabling environment and skills in Uganda for the green hydrogen industry.” says Nicolas Lecomte, HDF’s Director for Southern and East Africa.
The agreement will help Uganda realise its aspiration to advance green hydrogen development and capture domestic opportunities, in particular, through green power generation using hydrogen-based storage, as an alternative source of electricity.
“On behalf of my government, we would like to thank HDF for the initiative taken. Uganda has been talking about green hydrogen for a long time, with our energy mix, we want to capture whatever energy source we have. I know the technology will come with an opportunity for our people. We are open and will work with HDF, the entire region is going to be transformed.” remarked Dr. Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development.
