- Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) has partnered with the province of Kinshasa.
- The partnership concerns constructing and operating a green hydrogen photovoltaic solar power plant. This is the first project of its kind planned in Central Africa.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s province of Kinshasa may soon include hydrogen in its energy mix (DRC). An agreement between the provincial government of Kinshasa and Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) has been signed to reduce the intermittent nature of solar photovoltaic power plants by utilising the new opportunities afforded by the development of hydrogen technologies.
The provincial authorities of Kinshasa are supporting HDF “to make effective progress in the development of this first hydrogen power plant”. Based in Bordeaux, France, the company is studying the possibility of establishing this power plant south of Kinshasa.
The city province is thought to have a population of approximately 17 million, comparable to the Chad population but dispersed over a larger area of more than 9 900 km2. Kinshasa continues to experience load shedding, similar to other DRC cities. The Agence nationale pour la promotion des investissements estimates that just 44% of the city province has access to electricity (ANAPI). As a result, the Kinshasa province is switching to solar energy, which has a potential of between 3.22 and 4.89 kWh per m2 per day (average sunshine).
For the time being, Kinshasa and other provinces of the DRC are largely dependent on hydroelectricity. With an installed capacity of 2,844 MW, the Central African country produces 98% of its electricity from hydroelectric plants on the Congo, Ruzizi and Rutshuru rivers.