Burkina Faso: Regional meeting on green Hydrogen production in West Africa

Initiated by WASCAL (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use), the “Optimization of Solar Photovoltaics for Green Hydrogen Production” project is the focus of a two-day meeting in Burkina Faso’s capital, bringing together participants from member countries.

The photovoltaic optimization project, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), aims to address the negative impact of dust on solar photovoltaic plants and propose ways to optimize green hydrogen production.

This two-day workshop has gathered representatives from various West African countries, including engineers, project managers, researchers, and policymakers.

This unique platform for regional collaboration will help identify critical challenges and share experiences and knowledge related to the operation of large solar power plants.

«I recognize the crucial importance of renewable energy initiatives like the PV2H project in meeting our region’s energy needs while mitigating the effects of climate change», stated Professor Kehinde O. Ogunjobi, Director of the Competence Centre, representing the Executive Director of WASCAL.

The representative of the Minister of Higher Education praised WASCAL’s efforts through PV2H, noting that the project implemented at the Zagtouli site is one of the largest photovoltaic solar plants in Burkina Faso.

Professor Nicolas Barro also took the opportunity to commend WASCAL’s commitment to equipping the University Joseph Ki-Zerbo (UJKZ) with scientific equipment and refurbishing a laboratory building as part of the project’s implementation.

Burkina Faso has firmly committed to the development of renewable energy, exemplified by the implementation of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (PANER), which has increased the share of renewables in the electrical mix to approximately 27%.

Cedric KABORE