Browsing: South Africa green hydrogen projects

Green hydrogen

African seeks a share of $130 billion green hydrogen market

Investing
  • Globally, the hydrogen market exceeds $130 billion, and the World Bank is projecting an annual growth rate of over 9 per cent.
  • The rising global demand for clean energy is opening doors for African nations to establish themselves as green hydrogen exporters.
  • Across Africa, green hydrogen initiatives are taking root in Egypt, Niger, Morocco, South Africa, Namibia, and Mauritania.

Green hydrogen, derived from a clean process of electrolysation, can potentially transform the energy landscape in developing nations. Unlike traditional hydrogen production methods, which rely on fossil fuels, green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.

This innovation opens up new possibilities for decarbonisation and sustainable energy solutions. South Africa, Morocco, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger and Egypt are trailblazing the way for African economies, albeit with financing challenges. Recently, Kenya outlined its broad plan to tap into this industry, too.

Globally, the hydrogen market exceeds $130 billion, …

3D rendering of a concept of an energy storage system based on electrolysis of hydrogen in a clean environment with photovoltaics, wind farms and a city in the background. www.theexchange.africa

South Africa eyes green hydrogen investment worth US$250 Billion

Industry and Trade

By 2030 alone, between 6,000 and 10,000 megawatts of dedicated renewable energy plants would need to be built to power 3,000 to 5,000 megawatts of electrolyzer capacity, according to figures shown in the presentation. Electrolyzers use electricity to make hydrogen from water.

Green hydrogen production technologies are seeing a renewed wave of interest. This is because the possible uses for hydrogen are expanding across multiple sectors, including power generation, manufacturing processes in industries such as steelmaking and cement production, fuel cells for electric vehicles, heavy transport such as shipping, green ammonia production for fertilizers, cleaning products, refrigeration, and electricity grid stabilization, according to the World Bank.

South Africa possesses exceptional conditions for the development of a competitive green hydrogen industry due to its geographical and institutional environments, giving it the potential to become a development pole at the national and regional levels.…