Danish developer plans 60GW wind-solar hybrid to produce green hydrogen in west Africa

Danish developer plans 60GW wind-solar hybrid to produce green hydrogen in west Africa | Windpower Monthly

Dubbed the ‘Megaton Moon’ project, it will be one of the world’s largest green energy parks if approved, the developer said.

GoGreen hopes to start the pilot stage, with some hydrogen and ammonia production by 2028, while the last stage is planned for 2033-35. When fully operational, it will produce 4 MT/y of green hydrogen or 18 MT/y of green ammonia.

‘Sincere interest’

The project will be located in Nouakchott and appears to have the backing of Maritania’s energy ministry. GoGreen said the country’s energy minister, Nani O. Chrougha, expressed “sincere interest” in the project in a recent meeting.

Mauritania’s planned green hydrogen law has reach a “mature status on drafting”, according to the energy minister, with final approval expected in the first quarter of 2024.

Project development has benefitted from experience gained from its Megaton sister-project in Denmark, the company said.

Project partners and suppliers

COWI has been named as the project and development partner for power-to-x and infrastructure design while New Power Partners will provide engineering design.

“Developing a project of this magnitude requires close cooperation with the supply chain and the offtake partners,” said Anders Heine Jensen, head of global Megaton development. “To ensure that the supply chain is in place, the Megaton project will be implemented in three main stages, each comprising five to ten building blocks.

He continued: “In addition, the project’s size is set to attract the establishment of local production of PV panels, wind turbine blades and electrolysis components on which we are currently negotiating MoU’s with manufactures.”

The project will be financed through GreenGo Energy’s entrenched partnership approach with tier1 investors in the green energy space.

Global green hydrogen hub

Karsten Nielsen, CEO of GreenGo Energy, said Mauritania is ideally positioned to become one of the future world green hydrogen production hubs. “Mauritania holds some of the best solar and wind resource across in the world, large areas of suitable flat land and coastal proximity for water and shipping,” he explained.

“Green hydrogen production cost [here] is half of that in northern Europe, potentially lower. Furthermore, the region has some of the most operator-friendly fiscal policies on the continent, as documented by a history of significant oil and gas investments by world energy majors. Proximity to load centres in the EU is an additional benefit,” he added.

Nielsen claimed Megaton Moon alone could deliver 1% of total global green hydrogen demand by 2050.