Innovation at Wlozkasbaken

SKORPIo Alternative Fuels Namibia (SKORPIoN) seeks to obtain five Environmental Clearance Certificates (ECCs) for their proposed seaweed aquaculture farm and associated infrastructure, aimed at biofuel production. Last week Kaoko Green Energy Solutions hosted the first in a series of public participation meetings, led by environmental consultants I.N.K Enviro Consultants, to bring residents of the nearby Wlotzkasbaken community up to speed on the planned development.According to Kaoko, the innovative project is not just about e-methanol for green shipping, “it’s also about healing the ocean,” the renewable energy company said.Kaoko has also engaged the Namibia office of the Benguela Current Commission (BCC) to explore synergies in marine pollution mitigation and safeguarding ocean ecosystems. The projectSKORPIoN is an innovative sub-commercial pilot initiative aimed at transforming the production of biofuels. This pioneering endeavor is a collaboration between Kaoko and SeaH4.The objective is to establish a 6-hectare aquafarm on land, and its associated infrastructure including a 2MW solar power plant, bulk water supply pipeline, two 4MW wind turbines, with battery storage, and a green hydrogen and biofuels production facility. The project is situated in Wlozkasbaken between Swakopmund and Henties Bay, in close proximity to the Erongo Desalination Plant and conveniently near the Walvis Bay port. Seaweed for biogasThis initiative seeks to cultivate seaweed in ponds, fed by water pumped from the sea, in raceway ponds or paddlewheel ponds, which are approximately 50m long, and 10m wide or 100m long and 10m wide, respectively, with a water depth of 70cm, excavated into the sand and lined with a specialized pond liner. The paddle wheels will be driven by electric motors, powered by on-site renewable energy from solar and wind. The source of water in the aquafarm will be the continuous exchange of sea water from the Atlantic Ocean. SKORPIoN, is expected to pump 42 000cbm of seawater per day. The harvested seaweed will undergo pulping and be utilized for anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. The produced biogas will be split into approximately 500kg methane per day, and biogenic CO2 (approximately 1ton per day). The methane will be stored in a set of two road tankers, with one tanker being on site, acting as storage, and the other tanker supplying the offtaker. The CO2 will be fed into the hydrogen process to produce e-methanol. Pipelines, wind and solar energy Two 508mm pipelines are proposed to deliver 42 000cbm of seawater per day to the aquafarm. A preliminary design for the bulk supply pipeline has been established, incorporating a hybrid of a weighted pipeline and a steel jetty, with the water intake situated approximately 200 to 300 meters from the high-water mark. It comprises of 3 pumps each pumping 600 cubic meter per hour.The objective is to install a regular 2MW solar plant, as part of the SKORPIoN project. The project is projected to consume a maximum of 1300kW, with the majority of this consumption for processes operating continuously. In addition, a substation will likely form part of the power management system and be required to feed the surplus power into the grid, pending the outcome of the grid stability study. Wind is the preferred energy source for the production of biofuels, as it, in contrast to solar power, does not require substantial land allocation. The strategy entails the installation of two 4MW units. To ensure a reliable power supply, a 10 MWh battery will be installed on-site.Green hydrogen and biofuelsThe project incorporates electrolyzers to produce green hydrogen in the proposed production facility. These electrolyzers are designed for high efficiency and durability, ensuring optimal hydrogen production rates with minimal energy loss. The core process involves splitting desalinated water at about 2cbm per day, into hydrogen and oxygen, using electricity. The green hydrogen produced is stored in high-pressure buffer tanks, ensuring a reliable supply for subsequent chemical processes. The stored hydrogen is then fed into the Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) unit, where it reacts with biogenic CO2 to produce e-methanol. Methanol is stable without pressure and at room temperature. The produced methanol, approximately 1ton per day, will be stored in ISO tanks, that can readily be moved to the offtaker, like any other 20ft ISO container, according to the background document for the environmental impack assessment process.

Innovation at Wlozkasbaken

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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Innovation at Wlozkasbaken

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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