Green Economy Journal Issue 63

ENERGY
ENERGY
POWERING PROGRESS
R300-billion green hydrogen revolution
A convergence of interests between Japan and Southern Africa presents a unique opportunity
for economic expansion by seizing the initiative to play a prominent role in defining the
global hydrogen economy.
A hydrogen economy may fuel development in SA
Some in Southern Africa’s energy sector, including Namibia and South Africa, are exploring
the potential benefits of embracing a hydrogen economy, primarily driven by green hydrogen.
BY TSHILIDZI MARWALA
Wang et al., doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-35973-8
BY SANEDI
The inability to beneficiate its natural resources has hamstrung
Africa’s development for decades South Africa is determined
to not err again in its transition to a new energy era.
“It is an opportunity we cannot afford to waste,” says the head of
the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) energy secretariat
at the South African National Energy Development Institute
(SANEDI), Professor Sampson Mamphweli, who is instrumental in
shaping a partnership between the South African and Japanese
governments that aims to advance the application of hydrogen
technology worldwide. Hydrogen-related engagements between
the countries started four years ago when Japan first expressed an
interest in buying green hydrogen from South Africa. A memorandum
of cooperation was signed between South Africa and Japan in
November 2023 when a South African delegation led by Minister
Blade Nzimande travelled to Japan. Since then, much progress has
been made in implementing the provisions of the agreement, with
local companies Hive Energy and Sasol having signed agreements
with Japanese investors.
At the University of Cape Town, researchers presented the
technologies they have developed to the Japanese delegation,
focusing on membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) that Japanese
companies want to use at an industrial scale. Manufactured using
The proton exchange membrane fuel cell domain generated by Wang
et al. a) 2D and b) 3D rendering of the segmented membrane electrode
assembly with artificially overlayed flow channels.
one of the PGMs available in South Africa, MEAs are at the heart
of hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyser applications.
South Africa’s hydrogen society roadmap was approved by
Cabinet in 2021. It consolidated the different strategies related
to the hydrogen economy that had been developed by various
government departments. Under the auspices of the Department of
Science and Technology, the roadmap identified catalytic projects
crucial to realising the country’s hydrogen ambitions.
One such project entails hydrogen corridors for hydrogen-fuelled
trucks carrying freight from Limpopo to Gauteng and from Gauteng
to KwaZulu-Natal, with support infrastructure such as hydrogenproduction
hubs and science centres.
Hydrogen is a clean and renewable
energy source, but it requires plenty
of energy to produce.
Another is the Boegoebaai Green Hydrogen Special Economic
Zone in the Northern Cape in which Sasol will be an anchor
development partner, along with the Northern Cape Development
Agency, Transnet Ports Authority and the Port of Rotterdam in the
Netherlands. The project involves the development of a deep-water
port and associated infrastructure for the export of green hydrogen
to Europe. The CSIR is currently conducting the feasibility studies.
“Collaboration with Japan is invaluable in helping us understand
what is required to stimulate the hydrogen economy,” says Prof
Mamphweli. “Our goal is to develop a value chain that starts with
the mining of PGMs and ends with established industries that
supply technology and products for local use and export. We want
to build the hydrogen sector on local beneficiation of our PGMs.”
Green hydrogen production will also alleviate South Africa’s gridenergy
shortage. The energy needed to run hydrogen systems are
mostly consumed at night, leaving it available during the day to
supplement grid electricity. The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
has entered into an agreement with Hive Energy to buy some of
its green energy.
Another catalytic project is where Eskom is working with the DSI
and the SANEDI energy secretariat to develop a green hydrogen
facility at its Rosherville research centre in Gauteng.
“The multibillion-rand foreign direct investment – as much as
R300-billion in the next three to five years – will not only transform
the green energy sector, but our country in its entirety in ways
we might not even fully grasp yet,” concludes Prof Mamphweli.
Article courtesy Daily Maverick
Green hydrogen can be produced by electrolysing water into
hydrogen and oxygen using energy from green sources like
the sun, water and wind. When hydrogen fuel is burned,
it turns into water instead of carbon dioxide, as happens when
fossil fuel is burned. Of value in the move towards a sustainable
energy system, green hydrogen can be used in hard-to-decarbonise
areas like heavy industry and transportation.
The abundant sunlight and Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) in
Southern Africa necessary for producing green hydrogen offer the
region a comparative economic advantage. Most of South Africa
has more than 2 500 hours of sunshine per year. The average daily
amount of sunlight is between 4.56.5kWh/m 2 and 6.5kWh/m 2 . The
average yearly 24-hour solar radiation in South Africa is 220W/m 2 ,
which is higher than in many parts of the US (about150 W/m 2 )
and the EU (about 100W/m 2 ).
Catalysts speed up the process at the anode, where water is
oxidised to make oxygen and protons, and at the cathode, where
protons make hydrogen. Anode catalysts are usually made of
iridium or ruthenium oxide, while cathode catalysts are made of
platinum, which are all PGMs. South Africa produces between 80%
and 85% of the world’s iridium and 75% of the world’s platinum.
Namibia is also taking advantage of this opportunity, and in May
2023, it reached an agreement with Hyphen Hydrogen Energy on
a deal worth $10-billion.
Hydrogen is a flexible form of energy that can be used in many
ways. Fuel cells that run on hydrogen mix hydrogen and oxygen
to generate electricity, heat and water. These fuel cells are used
in cars, power plants, cell phones and computers. In an internal
combustion engine, hydrogen is burned like petrol, producing only
water vapour instead of carbon dioxide from petrol.
Hydrogen is an energy storage medium. Electrolysis, which is the
process that uses electricity to separate water into hydrogen and
oxygen, can use excess electricity from sources like hydropower
plants, the wind or the sun to generate hydrogen that can be
stored and used when there is a greater electricity demand or
when renewable energy sources are not producing as much energy.
Also, hydrogen can be used to provide heat and can be mixed
with natural gas to lower the amount of carbon dioxide released
by heating systems.
Hydrogen is a clean and renewable energy source, but it requires
plenty of energy to produce, especially when natural gas or other
fossil fuels are used. If produced from renewable energy sources,
hydrogen can be a stable energy source. Electrolysis has an efficiency
between 60% and 70%. But the efficiency of the process depends
on the technology and power source that is used.
Japan and Southern Africa have distinct socioeconomic and
geographical characteristics and have shown interest in the
hydrogen economy. Highly industrialised Japan has led the world
Hydrogen is an energy storage medium.
in developing and applying hydrogen technology. Several factors
influence Japan’s interest in hydrogen as a primary energy source.
Due to its limited domestic energy resources, Japan relies heavily on
imported fossil fuels. This reliance makes Japan vulnerable to global
energy market fluctuations. Additionally, Japan is committed to
reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to become carbon neutral
by 2050. The hydrogen economy offers a means to achieve its goals.
Japan’s plan for hydrogen includes producing, storing, transporting
and using it. Significant investments have been made in research
and development, infrastructure and public-private partnerships.
In addition, Japan has advanced fuel cell technology, with Toyota
leading the way in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The high cost of
producing hydrogen, especially green hydrogen through electrolysis,
is one of the biggest challenges. Another is that there is no good
network for distributing hydrogen.
As home to 70% of the world’s deposits of PGMs, South Africa holds
the keys to the development of large-scale hydrogen technology.
STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT
Given its abundant natural resources and developing economies,
Southern Africa presents different opportunities. Countries like
South Africa have already initiated research into the hydrogen
economy to resolve energy security, and stimulate economic growth.
Southern Africa could be a significant exporter of green hydrogen
because it has plenty of green energy sources and is strategically
located. However, the region faces significant obstacles. At this point,
there is a shortage of hydrogen production, storage and distribution
infrastructure. In addition, the Southern African region is hindered
by the high initial investment required for hydrogen technologies.
Although Japan and Southern Africa are at different phases of
economic development, these countries recognise the potential
of the hydrogen economy. Japan is well-positioned to dominate
hydrogen utilisation, especially in the transportation and residential
sectors, due to its advanced technology and industrial capacity.
Southern Africa has the potential to become a significant participant
in the production of green hydrogen due to the abundance of the
necessary resources. This convergence of interests presents a unique
opportunity for mutual cooperation and economic expansion.
Japan and Southern Africa can play a prominent role in defining
the global hydrogen economy through strategic cooperation and
a shared commitment to a sustainable future.
Professor Marwala is the seventh rector of the UN University and UN under Secretary-General.
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