Study: Development of a sustainable carbon carrier for PtX use: from Namibia to a global market

Carbon sourcing for Power-to-X (PtX) products such as synthetic fuels remains a critical factor in terms of end-product sustainability. Namibia, which aims to build a substantial green fuels industry and produce 10-12 million tonnes per year of hydrogen equivalent by 2050, is currently reviewing available carbon sourcing options. The goal: Ensure that fuel production is in line with the Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy and supports global defossilisation efforts.

The study sheds light on the three different sourcing methods for carbon: Direct Air Capture (DAC), Biogenic Carbon and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU). Further, it helps to understand the implications of carbon carrier choices and evaluate the different methods in the Namibian context.

Focusing on Namibia, this study comprehensively assesses the potential of utilising the country's residue biomass, particularly from bush encroachment, for the production of high-value PtX products, with a specific emphasis on synthetic fuels. Moreover, the study presents a novel approach to developing an innovative biomass PtX (BtX) process that maximises the carbon carrier aspect of biomass. The study provides recommendations for the implementation of the BtX process to produce synthetic drop-in fuels in Namibia.

The study was conducted by the GFA Consulting Group GmbH in collaboration with the GIZ project ‘Bush Control and Biomass Utilisation (BCBU)’ under the umbrella of the International PtX Hub.