South Africa is set to exploit the vast hydrogen market with a new collaboration signed today (31st March) which aims to explore the feasibility in developing a hydrogen valley near Johannesburg, Mogalakwena and Kwazulu Natal.
The primary angle is to decarbonise transport sectors as well as exploiting surrounding industry, in particular its platinum resources, which could create a domestic hydrogen economy of up to $10bn per year and tap into an export potential of $100bn annually.
Engie inked the agreement with South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation, South African National Energy Development Institute, Anglo American and Bambili Energy.
Firstly, the project will explore how a potential hydrogen valley could be set up in South Africa to spearhead further investment and development on a national hydrogen infrastructure with three hub zones to be identified to contribute to the hydrogen eco-system.
These hydrogen developments are expected to please President Ramaphosa who highlighted the importance of a National South Africa Strategy and that the country is ready to manufacture its own hydrogen in his recent State of the Nation address.
Sebastien Arbola, Executive Vice-President in Charge of Thermal Generation, Energy Supply activities and Hydrogen at Enegie, said, “Engie is delighted to be part of the ‘Hydrogen Valley’ study.”
“We believe that renewable hydrogen is key to decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries and will play a fundamental role in the global economy of tomorrow.”
