Green or greed? The conflictuous relation between the energy security and energy justice in the Dutch green hydrogen import ambition from South(ern) Africa
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2024-06-29
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en
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Green hydrogen is proposed as a key element in the energy transition, facilitating the decarbonisation of heavy industries and long-distance transportation. However, ambitious targets remain elusive due to the increased demand driven by the REPowerEU strategy, aimed at stabilising energy supplies that were disrupted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine while maintaining EU climate goals. Producing renewable energy to create green hydrogen requires extensive space and is costly, prompting EU member states to seek imports. The Netherlands aims to invest and import from among others, the following southwestern African projects; Namibia's Hyphen project, South Africa’s Boegoebaai project and developments in the already existing port in Saldanha Bay. These import-oriented projects are justified by narratives of sustainable development, yet without meaningful consultation, public participation and transparency, they risk becoming empty promises, extending foreign influence, and causing ecological distribution conflicts. Meanwhile, ecomodernist strategies to overcome financial obstacles risk putting public service under control of private capital, benefitting the fossil fuel sector. Local communities surrounding these projects fear loss of livelihoods due environmental degradation and (a continuation of) social injustices. Historically marginalised communities are disproportionately affected by the current Dutch expansion of the green hydrogen frontier, mirroring historical patterns of coloniality.
Keywords: green colonialism, green hydrogen, environmental justice, ecomodernism, ecological distribution conflicts
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen