The first in Africa green hydrogen power plant in Namibia will start producing clean electricity power, 24 hours a day all year round, by 2024.

French independent power producer HDF Energy expects that once operational, its Swakopmund green hydrogen power plant, built to the tune of $181mil., will boost electricity supply in the southern African nation that imports more than a third of its power from neighboring South Africa. Namibia, one of the world’s sunniest and least densely populated countries want to harness its vast potential for solar and wind energy to produce green hydrogen and position the country as a renewable energy hub in Africa.

“Yearly we can produce 142-gigawatt hours, enough for 142,000 inhabitants and that is conservative,” according to Nicolas Lecomte, HDF Energy director for Southern Africa. HDF Energy is also eyeing new projects across Africa and other parts of the world. Another company, Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, is in talks with Namibia’s government to kickstart its planned $10bn green hydrogen project that will produce some 350,000 tonnes of green hydrogen a year before 2030 for global and regional markets.

The European Union also plans a deal with Namibia to support the country’s nascent green hydrogen sector and boost its imports of the fuel, EU, and Namibian officials said as the bloc works to reduce its dependence on Russian energy sources. Hydrogen is categorized “green” when it is made with renewable power and is seen as key to helping decarbonize industry, though the technology remains immature and relatively costly.

Another the company, Namibian-registered Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, is in talks with the country’s government to secure an implementation agreement for its planned $10bn green hydrogen project that will produce some 350,000 tonnes of green hydrogen a year before 2030 for global and regional markets.