After securing a UK Government grant under the South Africa-UK PACT programme, the Nelson Mandela University and Ikigai Group will lead the consortium in collaboration with the country’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
South Africa’s Eastern Cape region will be evaluated for potential hydrogen production sites and necessary infrastructure for export, including port facilities and transportation networks.
Through exports, South Africa could maximise the valorisation of abundant renewable energy resources in the region and its surrounding provinces and provide a diversification of revenue streams via the sale of green hydrogen and ammonia to international markets.
University College London, DNV, National Gas, University of Kent and the Thames Estuary Growth Board are also included in the consortium. Hive Energy, the Nedbank Group, the Development Bank of South Africa and Advantage Partners will also support the consortium and provide fund management services to the Japan Hydrogen Association’s new fund dedicated to hydrogen related activities.
“South Africa is committed to deliver economic growth through a just transition from, inter alia, dependence on fossil-fuel-based energy production,” explained Professor Sibongile Muthwa, Vice-President at the Nelson Mandela University.
“This feasibility study aims to inform strategic decisions for the production and export of green hydrogen from Eastern Cape, potentially reshaping South Africa’s economy for inclusive growth.”
Helena Anderson, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Ikigai, said, “It’s [the feasibility study] focusing on a large-scale green hydrogen project in South Africa, comparing it with ammonia as a counterfactual carrier, and exploring how we can deliver hydrogen to places like Japan, Europe and the UK.
“The goal is to show that exporting hydrogen can also boost local demand.”
The UK and South Africa joined forces in 2022 to unlock investments for major infrastructure projects and green hydrogen. The countries agreed to collaborate and drive economic growth and “turbocharge” infrastructure investment.
Read more: UK-South Africa commit to unlock investments for infrastructure and green hydrogen
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