The European Union sees inexperienced hydrogen as an important a part of the worldwide power future and regards its partnership with South Africa on this regard as necessary. (File photograph)
In Africa, surging investments in renewables have dramatically slashed prices.
As an illustration, in accordance with the Worldwide Renewable Power Company (IRENA), photo voltaic photovoltaic (PV) prices have plummeted by over 80% since 2010.
With increasing wind and photo voltaic capability, inexperienced hydrogen is rising as a game-changer—providing a cleaner different for high-intensity industries like steelmaking and transport. European nations are scrambling for Africa’s inexperienced hydrogen, putting offers to faucet into the continent’s huge wind and photo voltaic potential for export.
Presently, Africa has over 114 GW of inexperienced hydrogen initiatives within the pipeline throughout greater than 52 websites, together with Mauritania, Egypt, Angola, Morocco, and Djibouti.
But challenges loom. A 2023 IEA report highlighted considerations over financing and export feasibility, citing market uncertainties, a scarcity of consumers, and rising manufacturing prices as key roadblocks.
To unpack the way forward for inexperienced hydrogen in Africa, we converse with Dr. Nicodemus Nyandiko, a number one professional in sustainable improvement and catastrophe administration.
With over 20 years of expertise, he has served on the Africa Science and Know-how Advisory Group for DRR, co-founded the Local weather Mobility Africa Analysis Community, and advises the Platform on Catastrophe Displacement.
In 2024, Dr. Nyandiko joined the Santiago Community, tasked with addressing climate-related loss and harm.
How do you view the function of inexperienced hydrogen in Africa’s power future? What alternatives and challenges do you foresee in scaling manufacturing, guaranteeing native worth creation, and integrating inexperienced hydrogen into current power methods?
Dr. Nyandiko:
Inexperienced hydrogen is quickly rising as an important clear power supply that enhances established renewables like hydro, wind, and photo voltaic. Its major goal is to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, notably these closely reliant on coal and petroleum, thereby accelerating the worldwide shift away from fossil fuels.
On the worldwide stage, nations akin to China, Germany, and Japan are on the forefront of inexperienced hydrogen innovation, leveraging superior electrolysis applied sciences to effectively cut up water into hydrogen and oxygen. These nations are actively integrating hydrogen into their power combine, setting benchmarks for large-scale manufacturing and utilisation.
Inexperienced hydrogen is gaining severe traction throughout Africa, with Namibia, South Africa, and a number of other North African nations main the way in which. Namibia, particularly, has made spectacular progress, constructing a robust inexperienced hydrogen infrastructure and positioning itself as a serious participant within the sector.
With Africa’s huge renewable assets and rising investor curiosity, the potential is large, not only for chopping emissions but in addition for driving sustainable industries and boosting power safety throughout the continent.
Many of the investments in Africa are coming from European nations—particularly Germany—and China. The concept is to provide inexperienced hydrogen in Africa and export it to Europe. Out of your perspective, how viable is that this? Do you see large-scale manufacturing and export of inexperienced hydrogen from Africa to Europe turning into a actuality?
Dr. Nyandiko:
These initiatives can solely take off with the best funding and good planning. There’s no query—Africa has large potential, particularly in comparison with nations like Germany and Japan.
With year-round sunshine, Africa is primed for inexperienced hydrogen manufacturing, in contrast to temperate areas with restricted photo voltaic publicity. Plus, the continent has loads of land for large-scale initiatives, one thing many different nations merely don’t have.
However potential alone isn’t sufficient. Turning this right into a thriving business—particularly for export—will take strategic investments, sturdy insurance policies, and clear rules to maintain every little thing on observe.
What function do elements akin to infrastructure, commerce agreements, and coverage frameworks play in guaranteeing Africa turns into a dependable provider of inexperienced hydrogen to world markets?
Dr. Nyandiko:
Various factors are essential. First, African policymakers want to really grasp inexperienced hydrogen’s potential. With out that consciousness, attracting funding and rolling out supportive insurance policies turns into an uphill battle.
success tales from nations like Japan, Germany, and India can assist. Their methods supply beneficial classes—African leaders and technical specialists ought to research and adapt them to suit native realities.
Constructing capability is simply as necessary. Governments want to coach officers, and the personal sector should take a extra lively function in inexperienced hydrogen initiatives. In developed economies, personal corporations lead the cost in renewable power investments. In Africa, although, many initiatives are nonetheless government-driven. That has to alter.
Then there’s analysis. Policymakers have to respect and act on scientific findings. Too typically in Africa, analysis is neglected. We noticed this throughout COVID-19 when some leaders downplayed the disaster regardless of clear scientific warnings. That very same mistake can’t occur with inexperienced hydrogen.
And at last, commerce agreements shall be key. Because the business takes off, African nations should negotiate offers that guarantee they profit from inexperienced hydrogen exports. The U.S.-Africa commerce agreements below AGOA supply a stable reference level for structuring honest partnerships with main importers.
Given Africa’s huge renewable power potential, what do you view to have been the largest obstacles stopping large-scale manufacturing and export to this point?
Dr. Nyandiko:
Infrastructure is likely one of the greatest challenges. Growing inexperienced hydrogen requires a classy provide chain, together with electrolysis vegetation, storage services, and specialised transport networks. Many African nations lack this infrastructure.
Financing is one other main situation. Inexperienced hydrogen initiatives are capital-intensive, and African nations typically wrestle to safe long-term funding. Many worldwide traders are hesitant as a consequence of perceived dangers, regulatory uncertainty, and governance points.
Moreover, there’s a lack of coherent insurance policies to assist inexperienced hydrogen improvement. International locations want clear rules, incentives, and frameworks to draw personal sector participation.
Assuming Africa had been to implement an efficient inexperienced hydrogen technique at present, how do you envision the continent’s power panorama within the subsequent 10 to twenty years?
Dr. Nyandiko:
If Africa totally embraces inexperienced hydrogen, it might be a game-changer—chopping reliance on petroleum-based fuels and easing the pressure of expensive power imports. Proper now, many nations rely closely on coal and oil, which not solely drive up carbon emissions but in addition drain international reserves.
Give it some thought—some nations have even confronted gasoline shortages just because their central banks didn’t have sufficient {dollars} to pay for imports. Switching to inexperienced hydrogen may convey much-needed stability, lowering dependence on fossil fuels, easing foreign exchange pressures, and fuelling financial progress.
And it’s not nearly big-picture economics. Cheaper, extra sustainable power would open doorways for small companies and industries, creating jobs and enhancing livelihoods. In the long term, a inexperienced hydrogen shift wouldn’t simply rework Africa’s power sector—it could energy up its whole industrial future.
What are the potential dangers to the event of inexperienced hydrogen power in Africa, notably within the context of industrialisation?
Dr. Nyandiko:
Hydrogen is tremendous explosive, which makes security investments and public consciousness completely essential to stopping fires and accidents.
That stated, inexperienced hydrogen is a large alternative for Africa’s industrial progress. Kenya has made strides—each within the personal and public sectors—however many industries throughout the continent are nonetheless struggling. Take the sugar business, as an illustration.
Africa has over 100 sugar factories, and plenty of are weighed down by monetary and power challenges. Inexperienced hydrogen might be a game-changer, slashing power prices and giving these factories much-needed aid.
And it doesn’t cease there. The fertiliser business—essential for Africa’s meals safety—has lengthy suffered from power shortages and a scarcity of key elements. Since hydrogen is a key part in nitrogen-based fertilisers, tapping into inexperienced hydrogen may ramp up agricultural productiveness, increase exports, and strengthen Africa’s financial system.
However to make this work, we’d like a transparent plan. Step one? Getting inexperienced hydrogen into industries that exist already. That might set off a ripple impact, driving adoption throughout different sectors and pushing Africa additional into the inexperienced power revolution.
— hen story company
Dr. Nicodemus Nyandiko is a Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Division of Catastrophe Administration and Sustainable Growth at Masinde Muliro College of Science and Know-how, Kenya. He holds an MSc and PhD in Catastrophe Administration and Sustainable Growth.