Exploring the Prospects in the Law and Policy of Green Hydrogen Energy (GHE) in West Africa: Plowing the Way Forward

The reason for climate change and its negative effects has been traced to the production of energy and the emissions that are derived. As a result of the release of harmful substances (greenhouse gas emissions) into the air, the climate and its fast-changing condition are now a major concern. This channeled the focus to discovering energy sources that, when processed, have little or no effect on climate change. The evolution of Green Hydrogen Energy has brought about the proposed solution for eradicating harmful energy substances. However, for green hydrogen energy to be fully maximized, it requires a system of regulations and concentration on how these regulations /policies are applied by their relevance and impact in Nigeria and the globe. The study conducted an in-depth analysis of the available laws, policies, and regulations concerning green hydrogen energy in the selected countries, as well as its implementation and challenges that have been faced so far, which affect its implementation. The doctrinal methodology was used to analyze the principles of laws established in different jurisdictions. With the use of primary and secondary sources, the authors discussed the impact of the implementation of laws on green hydrogen energy and the challenges that pose a threat to the acceptance of this form of energy. Even though green hydrogen is one of the solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the effects of climate change, the study revealed that its implementation and legislative framework, particularly in Africa, remain ineffective. The paper provided recommendations required for the proper navigation of the legal framework of green hydrogen energy in Africa.