Driving the Green Hydrogen Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities and Challenges
Key Ideas
  • Green hydrogen production through renewable energy-powered electrolysis is crucial for decarbonizing energy and industrial systems.
  • Namibia and Sub-Saharan Africa have significant green hydrogen production potential leveraging abundant renewable resources.
  • Research aims to bridge knowledge gaps and proposes a Localized Innovation and Adoption Strategies (LIAS) framework for developing green hydrogen ecosystems in these regions.
  • Policy discussions highlight the need for supportive national policies to foster the development of local green hydrogen economies in Africa.
The global shift towards green energy is driving the adoption of hydrogen as a key player in the energy transition. Hydrogen is lauded for its potential to decarbonize energy systems and its versatility in combining with renewable energy. However, the current large-scale production of hydrogen contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy sources, is seen as a promising approach to decarbonize energy and industrial systems. Namibia and Sub-Saharan Africa are identified as regions with high green hydrogen production potential due to their abundant renewable resources. A Localized Innovation and Adoption Strategies (LIAS) framework is proposed to support the development of green hydrogen ecosystems in these areas. The research emphasizes the importance of enabling trends, systemic barriers, and national interest concerns to establish local green hydrogen economies. It aims to provide practical recommendations for national policies to support the growth of these economies. With the rise of interest in green hydrogen as an alternative resource, countries like Namibia could become leading exporters of green hydrogen by 2050, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Efforts to promote regional cooperation could further benefit countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The article discusses the technology overview of green hydrogen, highlighting its potential as a clean fuel extracted primarily from water. The transition to renewable-based hydrogen production is crucial to reduce carbon emissions. The short, medium, and long-term strategies for renewable-based hydrogen production are outlined, emphasizing the importance of decarbonizing hydrogen through affordable renewable energy sources. The future growth of green hydrogen technologies is expected to drive social, economic, and regional changes globally. It presents both opportunities and challenges for policy intervention and investment. Understanding the diverse value propositions and policy responses is essential to manage the evolving landscape of green hydrogen technology markets.
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