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Law and Policy Review on Green Hydrogen Potential in ECOWAS Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Abdoulaye Ballo

    (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Competence Centre, Ouaga BP 9507, Burkina Faso)

  • Koffi Kouakou Valentin

    (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) Headquarters, Cantonments Accra PMB CT 504, Ghana)

  • Bruno Korgo

    (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Competence Centre, Ouaga BP 9507, Burkina Faso
    Laboratoire des Energies Thermiques Renouvelables (LETRE), Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouaga BP 13495, Burkina Faso)

  • Kehinde Olufunso Ogunjobi

    (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Competence Centre, Ouaga BP 9507, Burkina Faso)

  • Solomon Nwabueze Agbo

    (Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, 52425 Jülich, Germany)

  • Daouda Kone

    (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) Headquarters, Cantonments Accra PMB CT 504, Ghana)

  • Moumini Savadogo

    (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) Headquarters, Cantonments Accra PMB CT 504, Ghana)

Abstract

This paper aims to review existing energy-sector and hydrogen-energy-related legal, policy, and strategy documents in the ECOWAS region. To achieve this aim, current renewable-energy-related laws, acts of parliament, executive orders, presidential decrees, administrative orders, and memoranda were analyzed. The study shows that ECOWAS countries have strived to design consistent legal instruments regarding renewable energy in developing comprehensive legislation and bylaws to consolidate it and to encourage investments in renewable energy. Despite all these countries having a legislative basis for regulating renewable energy, there are still weaknesses that revolve around the law and policy regarding its possible application in green hydrogen production and use. The central conclusion of this review paper is that ECOWAS member states presently have no official hydrogen policies nor bylaws in place. The hydrogen rise presents a challenge and opportunity for members to play an important role in the fast-growing global hydrogen market. Therefore, these countries need to reform their regulatory frameworks and align their policies by introducing green hydrogen production in order to accomplish their green economy transition for the future and to boost the continent’s sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdoulaye Ballo & Koffi Kouakou Valentin & Bruno Korgo & Kehinde Olufunso Ogunjobi & Solomon Nwabueze Agbo & Daouda Kone & Moumini Savadogo, 2022. "Law and Policy Review on Green Hydrogen Potential in ECOWAS Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:7:p:2304-:d:776439
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Eugeniusz Mokrzycki & Lidia Gawlik, 2024. "The Development of a Green Hydrogen Economy: Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-29, June.
    2. Donald Ukpanyang & Julio Terrados-Cepeda, 2022. "Decarbonizing Vehicle Transportation with Hydrogen from Biomass Gasification: An Assessment in the Nigerian Urban Environment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-23, April.
    3. Uchendu Eugene Chigbu & Chigozie Nweke-Eze, 2023. "Green Hydrogen Production and Its Land Tenure Consequences in Africa: An Interpretive Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Beatrice Negro & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2025. "More Hype than Hope. Hydrogen Policy, Projects and Environmental Conflicts," LEM Papers Series 2025/28, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    5. Okeke, C.J. & Egberibine, P.K. & Edet, J.U. & Wilson, J. & Blanchard, R.E., 2025. "Comparative assessment of concentrated solar power and photovoltaic for power generation and green hydrogen potential in West Africa: A case study on Nigeria," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    6. C. Winkler & H. Heinrichs & S. Ishmam & B. Bayat & A. Lahnaoui & S. Agbo & E. U. Pe~na Sanchez & D. Franzmann & N. Oijeabou & C. Koerner & Y. Michael & B. Oloruntoba & C. Montzka & H. Vereecken & H. H, 2024. "Participatory Mapping of Local Green Hydrogen Cost-Potentials in Sub-Saharan Africa," Papers 2408.10184, arXiv.org.
    7. Abdul Rehman & Zakia Batool & Qurat Ul Ain & Hengyun Ma, 2025. "The renewable energy challenge in developing economies: An investigation of environmental taxation, financial development, and political stability," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 49(1), pages 699-724, February.

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