Energy PS Alex Wachira during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Green Hydrogen Innovations Centre at Nyeri Hill Farm in Nyeri County.
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The Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri has broken ground for a green hydrogen centre producing green ammonia fertilizer and medical oxygen at Nyeri Hill Farm.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri has officially broken ground for the Green Hydrogen Innovations Centre at Nyeri Hill Farm in Nyeri County, starting work on a project that will combine renewable energy, water, green hydrogen production, fertilizer manufacturing and agriculture.
The centre will focus on producing green hydrogen using renewable energy. The hydrogen will then support the production of green ammonia, which can be used to manufacture fertilizer for agricultural production.
The project is expected to provide an alternative approach to fertilizer production by using locally generated green hydrogen and ammonia. This could help reduce dependence on imported synthetic fertilizers while supporting farmers who rely on fertilizers to improve crop production.
Green ammonia is produced using hydrogen and nitrogen, with renewable energy used in the production process. Unlike conventional ammonia production, which largely relies on fossil fuels, green ammonia can be produced using renewable sources of energy, reducing the reliance on fossil fuel-based processes.
The Green Hydrogen Innovations Centre will also integrate water into the production process. Water is an important input in producing hydrogen through electrolysis, where electricity is used to separate hydrogen from oxygen. When renewable electricity is used, the resulting hydrogen is referred to as green hydrogen.
Another part of the project will involve the production of medical oxygen as a byproduct. The oxygen will provide a local supply that can be used by medical facilities, including Consolata Hospital Mathari in Nyeri.
A reliable supply of medical oxygen is important for hospitals and other health facilities that treat patients requiring respiratory assistance and critical care. Local production could therefore provide an additional source of oxygen for healthcare services in the area.
The centre is also linked to farming activities at Nyeri Hill Farm. By bringing renewable energy, water, fertilizer production and agriculture together, the project will provide an opportunity to demonstrate how different systems can work together to support agricultural production.
The initiative comes as Kenya continues to explore the use of renewable energy beyond electricity generation. Green hydrogen and its related products are being considered for applications in agriculture, industry, transport and healthcare.
At Nyeri Hill Farm, the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri will therefore have a facility where renewable energy technologies can be connected directly to agricultural and other practical uses. The project is expected to provide a platform for testing and developing solutions that can be applied to sustainable farming and other sectors.
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