Nairobi: In a bid to reduce reliance on imported fertilizer as well as cutting down on healthcare costs, the Catholic Diocese of Nyeri has launched a green hydrogen project, that will use solar energy to produce ammonia fertilizer and medical oxygen for healthcare facilities that are run by the Diocese.
According to Kenya News Agency, the project will see the Diocese construct the Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre at the Nyeri Hill Farm on the outskirts of Nyeri town, where solar energy will be harnessed to power an electrolyzer that will separate water molecules into green hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen will then be combined with nitrogen to produce green ammonia fertilizer, while the oxygen will be purified for medical use at Consolata Hospital Mathari, with the excess being sold to neighboring medical facilities in the county.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony at the Nyeri Hill Farm, Nyeri Diocese Catholic Archbishop, Anthony Muheria, said the initiative will significantly reduce the cost of sourcing oxygen for Consolata Hospital Mathari, which currently spends between Sh2.5 million and Sh3 million every month on the commodity. He described the project as a demonstration of the Catholic Church’s commitment to environmental stewardship by implementing practical solutions to climate change. Archbishop Muheria noted that the initiative reflects the church’s commitment to caring for creation while embracing technology that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the Chairman of the project’s technical committee, Engineer Joseph Njoroge, the facility will comprise a 550-kilowatt-peak solar photovoltaic plant, an Anion Exchange Membrane electrolyzer, green ammonia production facilities, and a medical oxygen production facility. It will also incorporate battery and hydrogen storage systems. He said the project is designed to produce approximately 56.8 million liters of green ammonia fertilizer annually and about 56.7 million liters of medical oxygen annually, which he said will be sufficient to meet the fertilizer requirements for the 825 acres of Arabica coffee farm surrounding the project.
The event also saw the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology sign a partnership agreement with the project to support research and training. In his remarks, University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Peter Muchiri, described the Centre as an important development for Kenya’s energy sector. He said the University’s Centre for Energy Studies would contribute technical expertise and support research in green hydrogen while offering a platform for training graduates who will enter Kenya’s emerging green hydrogen industry.
Principal Secretary (PS), State Department for Energy, Alex Wachira, described the project as a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to move its green hydrogen agenda from policy to practical implementation. He said in addition to addressing challenges in the agriculture and healthcare sectors, the project could potentially revolutionize the renewable energy sector in the country. He noted that Kenya is well-positioned to benefit from the emerging green hydrogen industry because more than 90 percent of the country’s electricity is generated from renewable sources, principally geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar. Wachira said green hydrogen and its derivatives, including green ammonia, could help Kenya reduce its dependence on imported agricultural inputs while creating opportunities for industrialization, investment, exports, skills development, and employment.
To ensure the realization of energy security, the PS said that the Government will continue working with the private sector, development partners, universities, and communities to create an enabling environment for green hydrogen investment.
