Africa-Press – Liberia. The African continent has the potential to account for a significant share – up to 10% – of the global hydrogen market by 2050 by leveraging its vast solar, hydropower, wind and biomass resources and catalyzing investments in the development of electrolyzers and associated technologies, according to a recent study from Masdar.
By unlocking up to $1.13 trillion in new investments in hydrogen projects through 2050, Africa could produce up to 60 million tons of green hydrogen capacity – and at a lower cost than other regions – serving to boost electrification and drive economic expansion, with up to $120 billion added to the continent’s GDP and up to 3.7 million jobs created.
In 2022, several key project announcements were made by African energy producers who are leading hydrogen development on the continent.
Egypt
With H.E Mohamed Shaker, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, announcing 2022 as “the year of green hydrogen,” a number of projects were launched in partnership with the government, including Maersk’s Green Fuels project; Masdar Hassan Allam Utilities’ Suez Hydrogen Project and Mediterranean Coast Hydrogen project; H2 Industries’ Port Said Hydrogen Project; Total Eren and Enara Capital’s SCZONE Hydrogen Project; Alfanar’s Green Ammonia project; and Globeleq’s Suez Canal Economic Zone facility, among others. As part of the National Green Hydrogen Strategy announced during COP27 – held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt – the Egyptian Government signed a further eight framework agreements for ammonia and green hydrogen project deployment.
Namibia
Namibia’s leadership in the emerging hydrogen sector has not only been shown by several recent project launches in-country, but also by the sheer size and scope of the projects. Following Namibia’s first announcement of a green hydrogen project – developed by Hyphen Hydrogen Energy at a cost of $10 billion and with a production capacity of 175 kilo tons per annum (ktpa) – a number of innovative projects have since been announced, including HyRail Namibia’s Hydrogen Diesel Dual Fuel Locomotive Project, which will introduce green hydrogen as a locomotive fuel in the country. Other projects in Namibia include HDF Energy’s utility-scale solar hydrogen project, Daures Green Village – launched earlier this month – H2 Pilot Plant/Refueling Station and SCDI Green Hydrogen Project.
Mauritania
Mauritania is another country on the global map for hydrogen production, home to Africa’s two largest hydrogen facilities by production capacity – the 1,700-ktpa Aman Hydrogen Project and the 600-ktpa Project Nour Green Hydrogen Plant – which are both set to come online in 2030. Following the launch of these billion-dollar megaprojects, several other private sector initiatives have made headway in the sector, including a Memorandum of Understanding between state-owned mining firm SNIM and ArcelorMittal to produce steel using energy from green hydrogen. The Mauritanian Government also signed an agreement with bp to partner on the large-scale production of green hydrogen.
Morocco
Following the launch of a National Hydrogen Commission and industry expansion roadmap in 2019 and 2021, respectively, Morocco is on track to become one the largest producers of low-cost green hydrogen globally, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. The country has launched several recent developments, including HEVO Ammonia, the German H2 & Ptx Derivatives Project and Total Eren’s Green Ammonia Megaproject. The 31-ktpa HEVO Ammonia development, for its part, will represent the largest green hydrogen and green ammonia project in the country to date and is expected to be commissioned by 2026.
South Africa
Having launched its Hydrogen Society Roadmap – which aims to place South Africa ahead of the global green hydrogen race – the southern African country is one of the leading hydrogen markets in Africa. Projects such as Anglo American’s H2 Valley and Mining Trucks initiative and ArcelorMittal and Sasol’s Green Derivatives have made significant progress in moving South Africa towards a green economy. The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ACWA Power and the Industrial Development Corporation, along with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a R300-billion green hydrogen pipeline, are set to unlock additional project launches in 2023 and beyond.
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