Mzansi looks to Green hydrogen as a power source
Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who was delivering a keynote address on Green Hydrogen, said the African continent can produce more energy than it requires within the next 30 years if it takes advantage of its natural resources.
The minister was speaking on the vital role the green hydrogen economy plays in the country’s development and just energy transition (JET) at the Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town recently.
South Africa’s Investment Strategy, approved by Cabinet earlier this year, lists green hydrogen as one of the big frontier strategic sectors expected to attract foreign and domestic direct investment.
“It is important that in the conversation around the potential of green hydrogen, we confront what essentially is an objective inherent risk associated with the exploitation of this resource and the strain that it’s putting on our water resources.
“There’s a rich body of literature that suggests that coastal countries can use sea water to produce green hydrogen and therefore eliminating the strain that is likely it’s likely going to place on limited water resources…especially countries like South Africa where water is a scarce commodity,” he said.
The Minister explained that Sub-Saharan Africa’s resources have the capacity to “produce anything between 5000 and 13 000 million tonnes per year” of green hydrogen.
“We think that could come at about $2 per kilogram…essentially by 2050 and therefore making green hydrogen financially competitive compared to other energy sources.
“I did make the point that it could also contribute significantly to the national revenue funds of many African countries of up to $20 billion and that could distributed to ensure that we are able to expand on social infrastructure, improve the quality of life of our people and ensure that we put Africa on a pedestal for significant growth going into the future,” he said.
South Africa is part of the African Green Hydrogen Alliance, which includes Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Ethiopia and Angola.
The alliance aims to harness Africa’s potential in developing green hydrogen industries. It aims to make joint calls for technical support, funding and market access to international public and private sector partners.
During the Green Hydrogen Summit, a groundbreaking agreement was made that will potentially change South Africa’s automotive industry.
BMW, Anglo-American Platinum, and Sasol will work together to bring green hydrogen-powered electric vehicles on South Africa’s roads.
As per the agreement, Sasol said that it will supply the green hydrogen and mobile refueler, whilst BMW provides the hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles such as the BMW iX5 Hydrogen.
Anglo American Platinum, which provides platinum group metals (PGMs) used in FCEVs and has been investing in hydrogen technologies for many years, will work closely with BMW and Sasol to help develop a local green hydrogen mobility ecosystem.
