Green Hydrogen Initiatives in South Africa: Harnessing Sustainable Energy Sources
Key Ideas
- South Africa is investing in green hydrogen technologies to reduce coal dependence and transition to a low-carbon economy.
- The country's rich resources like platinum make it advantageous for developing a sustainable hydrogen value chain.
- Various policy initiatives aim to diversify energy sources, address energy scarcity, and build national capabilities for exporting hydrogen.
- The report outlines policy recommendations and an action plan to inform decisions on green hydrogen production in South Africa.
The UNCTAD project on Technology Assessment in the Energy and Agricultural Sectors in Africa, focusing on South Africa, Seychelles, and Zambia, initiated in 2019. South Africa is actively pursuing green hydrogen technologies to reduce coal dependence and transition to a low-carbon economy. The country's policy and programmatic initiatives aim to diversify energy sources, address energy scarcity, and build national capabilities for exporting hydrogen. With abundant platinum and iridium resources, South Africa has a significant advantage in developing a sustainable hydrogen value chain. The report delves into the country's energy outlook, policy frameworks, and the increasing attention on green hydrogen. It discusses electrolyser technologies for sustainable energy production and provides insights on overcoming energy security challenges. Academic and non-academic studies are contributing to understanding the socioeconomic and technical aspects of a green hydrogen economy in South Africa. The methodology section outlines the TA process, including a SWOT analysis and stakeholder perceptions on green hydrogen. Policy recommendations and an action plan are suggested to leverage the TA findings for informed decision-making on green hydrogen production. Capacity building measures for technology policymaking are emphasized to institutionalize TA as a toolbox for sustainable development.
Topics
Green Hydrogen
Innovation
Energy Transition
Sustainable Development
Policy Frameworks
Electrolyser Technology
Capacity Building
Technology Assessment
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