Natural resources, like diamonds, uranium, or lithium, have enormous economic potential for developing countries. Stephen Holland, professor of economics at UNC Greensboro’s Bryan School of Business and Economics, was recently awarded a Fulbright scholarship to travel to Namibia University of Science and Technology’s Energy Institute and explore another natural resource with enormous economic potential for the African country: solar energy.
“Namibia is in this unique position as a desert country. It has lots and lots of solar energy potential, but it is very far from established markets like Europe and the United States,” Holland says. “The question is what they can do with all that solar energy.”
An economic proposition
An expert on environmental and energy economics, Holland focuses his research on energy use. He’s especially interested in the market for hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels.
Holland’s main project will investigate the economic potential of using solar power to fuel electrolysis that produces hydrogen from seawater. The product is known as “green hydrogen” if it is produced with renewable energy and can be used to replace fossil fuels such as natural gas.
“Hydrogen is relatively easy to ship and can be used in industrial processes anywhere in the world,” Holland says.
With 3,500 hours (about 5 months) of sunlight a year and a 976-mile coastline, Namibia has the resources to create a new green energy-based economy for its 2.5 million residents. The European Union plans to become carbon-neutral by 2050, making Namibia an attractive potential partner for green hydrogen production.
Now is the time
Beyond the research, Holland looks forward to returning to Africa 35 years after his first trip to neighboring Botswana with the U.S. Peace Corps in 1990.
“I love to live in and learn about different cultures,” Holland says. “Throughout my career, I’ve always wanted to do that again, and various things have gotten in the way. I’m thrilled about this opportunity to return to Africa via the Fulbright Award.”
Beyond his research, Holland will teach undergraduate courses at Namibia University of Science and Technology in microeconomic theory and environmental and energy economics. He’s hoping to help build connections between UNCG and NUST for student exchange.
“Africa is one of the places that’s still growing rapidly, and there’s a young population with a hunger for education,” Holland says. “There will be more and more students coming from Africa to universities worldwide, and I think UNCG can compete to attract those students.”
Once he returns to UNCG, Holland is excited to share his experience with students back in Greensboro.
“Africa is so far away, so I’m excited to humanize it and bring it back to my students. My hope is that Fulbright will open me up to a broader perspective on my students who possess such a wonderful mix of backgrounds from everywhere,” he says. “I hope hearing about my time in Namibia will inspire them to spend time abroad, go somewhere new, and discover how other people live. Now is the time.”
About the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, 44 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors.
More than 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. In addition, over 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program participants — recent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals — participate in study/research exchanges or as English teaching assistants in local schools abroad annually.
Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, funded by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations worldwide also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in more than 160 countries worldwide.
In the United States, the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://ful-brightprogram.org
Story by Alice Manning Touchette
Photography courtesy of Stephen Holland
