• Kenya is considering a large-scale green hydrogen plant near the port of Mombasa.

• The project would rely on geothermal, solar and wind power.

• No capacity, cost or timeline details have yet been disclosed.

Kenya is planning the construction of a large-scale green hydrogen production plant primarily aimed at export markets, according to information published on February 17 by SolarQuarter.

The proposed facility would use electricity generated from renewable sources, including geothermal, solar and wind power, to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. The site is expected to be located near the port of Mombasa, providing access to the water required for electrolysis and facilitating exports to international markets.

The production of derivatives such as green ammonia is also under consideration as part of the export strategy. The project framework includes components related to equipment manufacturing and workforce training.

At this stage, no public details have been released regarding the planned production capacity, project timeline, investment size, financing structure, potential partners or commercial agreements.

Kenya’s national hydrogen strategy, adopted in 2023, outlines the technical direction for the sector’s development. According to the International Energy Agency, the first phase covering 2023 to 2027 targets about 150 megawatts of renewable electricity dedicated to green hydrogen production and nearly 100 megawatts of installed electrolyzer capacity.

For the period 2028 to 2032, the strategy calls for an additional 350 to 450 megawatts of renewable capacity and 150 to 250 megawatts of electrolyzer capacity.

The national roadmap also references pilot projects. These include a 5-megawatt demonstration project in Olkaria, with potential expansion to 100 megawatts depending on feasibility study results. Another initiative mentioned involves Fortescue Future Industries, with a potential capacity of 300 megawatts in the Olkaria-Naivasha area.

Abdel-Latif Boureima