JinkoSolar, the global leading PV and ESS supplier, today announces that it has supplied 25MW of its highly efficient N-type TOPCon panels for the first phase of a solar-powered hydrogen project which supports green ironmaking at the Oshivela plant in Namibia. Once being online, it will be the first commercial green iron plant in Africa and a significant milestone for the green industrial revolution. In addition, JinkoSolar signs MOU to secure the order for the upcoming II and III phase with total capacity of up to 1.811GW.

By harnessing the power of hydrogen, Hyiron´s Oshivela Green Iron plant is pioneering a transformative approach to ironmaking. Using hydrogen as a clean energy source will enable the plant to achieve carbon neutrality. This will effectively mitigate the environmental footprint associated with traditional iron production methods.

“On behalf of HyIron, I am honored to share our vision and plans for the global collaboration with JinkoSolar on our Green Iron Project,” said Johannes Michels, Managing Director of HyIron. “HyIron is focusing on renewable energy and engineering green industrial solutions. Our core technology, known as HyIron Technology, is an innovative process that utilizes green hydrogen to reduce iron ore in a rotary kiln, resulting in a fully carbon-neutral iron production.”

“Our collaboration with JinkoSolar will materialize in the Oshivela Project in Namibia, where we aim to establish the world’s first industrial production of iron at net-zero emissions using the HyIron Technology. By joining forces with JinkoSolar, we are collectively contributing to the global energy transition and building a greener, more sustainable future.” 

The cost of green hydrogen is the key to project’s ROI and mainly depends on the cost of green power. The high efficiency and high generation performance of JinkoSolar’s N-type Tiger Neo panel delivers the lowest possible LCOE to secure the economic value of this green iron production project and makes it competitive to iron productions based on fossil fuels.

“We feel greatly honored to supply our Tiger Neo panels to power the Africa’s first solar hydrogen powered green iron plant which represents a paradigm shift in the iron industry. It will set a precedent for sustainable manufacturing practices on a global scale. Initiatives like HyIron’s Oshivela Green Iron plant serve as beacons of hope and inspiration in Africa and rest of the world,” said Jaffer Wang, GM of JinkoSolar’s SSA region.