Promoting green hydrogen

Project description

Title: Promoting the development of a green hydrogen sector in
South Africa (H2.SA)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: South Africa
Lead executing agency: The Presidency, Republic of South Africa
Overall term: 2021 to 2023

Context

South Africa has everything necessary to position itself internationally as a producer of green hydrogen (from renewable energies) and derived products, including exceptional potential for wind and solar energy as well as large usable areas. Furthermore, the country has production facilities for synthetic fuels, which for now are still running on coal, as well as the world’s largest deposit of platinum, which is also a component required in the construction of electrolysers and fuel cells.

In addition to the possibility for export, there is also considerable potential in its domestic (largely coal-based) industry to reduce carbon dioxide through the use of hydrogen. For workers in the coal industry, the hydrogen economy could mean alternative employment options.

Objective

South Africa has improved strategic, regulatory and technical requirements for building a green hydrogen economy.

Approach

The project provides support in the following areas:

  • It advises on the framework conditions and strategies necessary for accelerating the development and marketing of products made using green hydrogen. In the long term, this should give rise to attractive investment conditions and jobs that strengthen the national industry.
  • At the same time, it builds up skills in governmental structures, as well as in the private sector, science and research. It promotes innovative technical solutions and pilot projects not only for producing green hydrogen, but also for using it in various industries. Training measures further strengthen the expertise of those responsible in selected institutions so that they can better assess opportunities and limits, in both technical and economic terms.
  • In addition, the project promotes the development of criteria and processes to ensure that the hydrogen economy and the associated solar and wind power plants are built in an environmentally and socially acceptable manner. The aim is to improve acceptance for the expansion of renewable energies and hydrogen projects.

Last update: April 2022