Latest news with #GlobalAfricanHydrogenSummit
The Herald
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald
Fail to plan, plan to fail
It's no secret that South Africa has abundant potential to generate renewable energy. If you don't believe me, just go outside on one of these unseasonably warm late summer days we've been having and feel the breeze on your face. What we have lacked until recently, however, is a co-ordinated effort to exploit this potential – and to establish a sound position for South Africa in the renewables value chain. The Cabinet's recent approval of the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan thus represents an exciting step forward. Electricity and Energy Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré says that, crucially, the plan is the result of collaboration between civil society, industry role players, labour, government, independent power producers and others, making it holistically aligned with the whole renewable energy ecosystem. One of the key things the plan addresses is developing the skills South Africa – and indeed most countries worldwide – need to drive our energy transition. From engineers and data scientists to environmental impact assessors and welders, there are thousands of jobs that can be created should the various stakeholders across that ecosystem work together. This is just one of the issues we address in this revamped, and thus inaugural, issue of Renewable Energy Solutions . We also check out the Global African Hydrogen Summit taking place in Windhoek later this year, the potential for biogas development in the country, how we can make those proliferating data centres of ours a bit more sustainable, what the evolution of the battery industry means for a country stocked with crucial minerals, how private trading is transforming the energy market, and just how we're going to fund the Just Energy Partnership with Donald Trump having withdrawn funding. If anything illustrates how you can't plan for everything, it's that last point. Nevertheless, it still helps to have a plan. Anthony Sharpe, Editor Page 2
TimesLIVE
16 hours ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Fail to plan, plan to fail
It's no secret that South Africa has abundant potential to generate renewable energy. If you don't believe me, just go outside on one of these unseasonably warm late summer days we've been having and feel the breeze on your face. What we have lacked until recently, however, is a co-ordinated effort to exploit this potential – and to establish a sound position for South Africa in the renewables value chain. The Cabinet's recent approval of the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan thus represents an exciting step forward. Electricity and Energy Deputy Minister Samantha Graham-Maré says that, crucially, the plan is the result of collaboration between civil society, industry role players, labour, government, independent power producers and others, making it holistically aligned with the whole renewable energy ecosystem. One of the key things the plan addresses is developing the skills South Africa – and indeed most countries worldwide – need to drive our energy transition. From engineers and data scientists to environmental impact assessors and welders, there are thousands of jobs that can be created should the various stakeholders across that ecosystem work together. This is just one of the issues we address in this revamped, and thus inaugural, issue of Renewable Energy Solutions. We also check out the Global African Hydrogen Summit taking place in Windhoek later this year, the potential for biogas development in the country, how we can make those proliferating data centres of ours a bit more sustainable, what the evolution of the battery industry means for a country stocked with crucial minerals, how private trading is transforming the energy market, and just how we're going to fund the Just Energy Partnership with Donald Trump having withdrawn funding. If anything illustrates how you can't plan for everything, it's that last point. Nevertheless, it still helps to have a plan.
Zawya
25-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Unlocking Africa's Hydrogen Potential: Key Project Final Investment Decision (FID)
Africa, the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent, is positioning itself as a frontrunner in the global green energy revolution, with hydrogen emerging as a critical commodity of strategic and national importance across the continent. Whilst there are many hydrogen projects of myriad scale and end use being proposed across the continent, including Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, and South Africa, Namibia is putting ambition into action by having already reached several key milestones towards FID, on up to five projects. Growing Energy Demand in Africa Africa is home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but the continent is also grappling with one of the most significant energy access challenges. Over 600 million people across the continent still lack access to reliable electricity, and nearly 900 million people rely on traditional biomass for cooking, contributing to both energy poverty and significant health risks. However, Africa's energy deficit also represents a unique opportunity to leapfrog outdated, polluting technologies and implement innovative, sustainable energy solutions. Hydrogen, particularly green hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources, has emerged as a vital part of Africa's energy future. Africa boasts abundant renewable resources, including vast solar and wind potential, which can be harnessed to produce green hydrogen on a large scale. This clean, versatile energy carrier could not only meet domestic demand for electricity but also position Africa as a global supplier of green hydrogen to international markets. How Namibia is Shaping Global Energy: Final Investment Decisions (FID) Charting Africa's Hydrogen Industry Future Namibia is leading Africa's transition to a low-carbon economy. Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) on green hydrogen projects are set for 2025. At the forefront of innovation, Namibia is highlighting its vast potential, from synthetic fuel production to equipment manufacturing, driving economic growth and cementing its role as a key player in the global energy transition. As a centrepiece of the Global African Hydrogen Summit, taking place in Windhoek, 9 – 11 September 2025, Namibia's emerging green industries sector represents a powerful investment opportunity for companies worldwide. The country is committed to innovative research and development, sustainable socio-economic advancement, economic diversification, environmental and biodiversity protection and combatting climate change. The Global African Hydrogen Summit recently published exclusive insights in partnership with the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme that showcase a FID Timeline as well as Namibia's Green Hydrogen Overview & Report. The insights chart how the Namibian projects are well underway towards their path to FID and project implementation. These projects include the HyIron Oshivela Project, producing green iron for export; Cleanergy Solution developing green ammonia for heavy transport and export; HDF Energy producing green hydrogen and green baseload electricity for the National Grid; Zhero/Envision to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia for export and the Hyphen Hydrogen Energy project which aims to produce green hydrogen and ammonia for export and excess electricity into the grid as well as localisation and export via a pipeline to South Africa. Hydrogen as a Job Creator and Economic Driver Beyond its environmental and energy access benefits, hydrogen presents significant opportunities for job creation and economic growth across Africa. The hydrogen value chain, from renewable energy production to hydrogen storage, transport, and usage, offers numerous avenues for industrial development. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the hydrogen economy could create millions of jobs globally, and Africa stands to benefit enormously. For example, the hydrogen economy in Namibia has already started developing skills and building a workforce to support hydrogen production and infrastructure development. The partnership focuses on equipping workers with the technical skills needed for green hydrogen technologies, which will be essential for Africa's energy future. Moreover, the export potential of African-produced green hydrogen to energy-hungry regions like Europe and Asia could generate significant revenue streams, which could be reinvested into domestic infrastructure and social development projects. Challenges and the Pathway Forward Despite the promising opportunities, the hydrogen sector in Africa faces several challenges. First and foremost is the need for infrastructure development. While Africa has abundant renewable energy resources, scaling up hydrogen production and creating the necessary infrastructure for storage, transport, and distribution will require significant investment. Additionally, access to finance remains a barrier for many African countries and projects looking to enter the hydrogen market. Another challenge is regulatory frameworks. Many African countries are still in the early stages of developing hydrogen-specific policies and regulations, which can create uncertainty for investors. However, there is growing recognition among African governments that creating a conducive environment for hydrogen development will be crucial to the continent's energy transition. Conclusion: A Bright Future for Africa's Hydrogen Sector Africa's hydrogen sector is at a tipping point. With its abundant renewable energy resources, young workforce, and increasing commitment to sustainability, the continent is well-positioned to lead the global green energy revolution. As governments, businesses, and international partners continue to invest in the hydrogen economy, the future looks bright for Africa's energy sector. Following the huge success of the inaugural edition of the Global African Hydrogen Summit dmg events are delighted to announce that a sequel edition will take place from 9 – 11 September 2025 in Windhoek, Namibia. The Global African Hydrogen Summit is held under the official patronage and hosted by the Government of Namibia, endorsed by the Ministry of Mines & Energy of Namibia, held in partnership with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), and supported by the Namibia Green Hydrogen Council and the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P). Themed Ambition in Action: Fuelling Africa's Green Industrial Revolution, the dynamic three- day -summit will once again convene heads of state, ministers, business leaders, project developers, investors, technologists and end users from across Africa and around the globe to drive partnerships for, and critical investments and financing into, bankable green energy projects of strategic and national importance across Africa.
The Independent
17-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Africa's Shark Island has a violent history – it's now at risk from tourists
In September 2025, Namibia will host the Global African Hydrogen Summit. The Namibian government has ambitions to turn the country into a leading producer of green hydrogen for export to markets in Europe and elsewhere. However, the lands and waters now regarded as being essential to Europe's energy transition are tied to traumatic memories of colonial violence; especially the ocean, which is the final resting place for thousands of Namibians. As countries around the world transition to renewable energy, an inconspicuous peninsula in Namibia known as Shark Island is positioned to play a key role in the production of so-called 'green' hydrogen, which is a proposed alternative to fossil fuels. However, the peninsula and its waters are at risk of being compromised by proposed port expansions to support the transportation of green hydrogen. Shark Island, near the town of Lüderitz, is now a campsite for tourists. But Shark Island is also called Death Island, and it was a concentration camp and a site of genocide during German colonial rule from 1884 to 1915. The concentration camp has since been destroyed, leaving little evidence of the violence that occurred there. However, recent international investigations highlight what many Namibians have known and worked on for generations. In 1884, German colonizer Adolf Lüderitz annexed Namibia, intending to finance colonial rule through minerals. Between 1904 and 1908, German colonial forces killed approximately 100,000 people (80 per cent of the Herero and half of the Nama population). The genocide also affected the ǂNukhoen and the ǂAonin communities. During the genocide, those who were not immediately killed were sent to concentration camps, where they were forced to perform manual labour, such as working on railways and harbours. This occurred across Namibia, including on the coast: in Swakopmund and Lüderitz alone, more than 1,550 Nama died. Namibia's Shark Island mapped: The research agency Forensic Architecture has digitally reconstructed the camps and identified evidence of burial places. On Shark Island, they demonstrate that the port expansion 'poses further imminent risk to the site.' Attention has been given to the land-based component of green hydrogen projects including the multinational joint venture, Hyphen Energy. But the ocean, which Namibia's development projects also interact with, is often overlooked as a space of memory, justice and relations. This is in part due to colonial and apartheid histories that erased or excluded people from the coasts and oceans. During colonial rule, German colonizers incarcerated Namibians offshore aboard ships. They also threw the bodies of those who had died in the concentration camp into the ocean. The local saying 'the sea will take you' highlights how the ocean is involuntarily tied to memories of death and trauma. Namibians have not forgotten the violence that occurred on the land and at sea. Local groups are restoring grave sites and establishing memorials. The discussion of recognition, justice and equitable rights and access to the coast and ocean are important for Namibia's communities and the decedents of those killed during the genocide. Green hydrogen has a central role in global decarbonization ambitions. Namibia is considered an 'export production site' for Europe's future hydrogen economy. This is due to its solar and wind potential, and access to the ocean. Hydrogen can only be produced in Namibia if the infrastructure exists to enable it. For example, hydrogen requires the industrial and transportation infrastructure to get it to international markets. To meet these demands, the Namibian Ports Authroity is proposing port expansions in the city of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, where expansion could have implications for Shark Island and its waters. Campaigners in Namibia are demanding the government and industry halt the expansion plans on Shark Island, and meaningfully engage with reconciliation. Among them is the Windhoek-based Black Court Studio, where Natache Iilonga, co-author of this article, is the creative director. These proposed developments signal the continued European dominance in Namibia's blue and green economy projects. They enable energy colonialism, where the push for green energy continues colonial injustices. European countries and industry perpetuate ecological, social and cultural harm to satisfy their own climate change agendas. Projects and partnerships between Namibia and European countries like Germany are emblematic of (neo)colonial power relations. While these projects propose to foster co-operation, they also continue to dispossess communities from their lands and waters, and erase environmental and cultural relations. Through 'development assistance,' the German government and non-governmental organizations continue to influence economic projects in Namibia, while avoiding discussion of meaningful reparations for colonial crimes. The land and ocean are not merely passive witnesses to colonial violence. Black Court Studio incorporates the ocean as a dynamic participant in the conversation about these violent histories, and justice and healing. Through community exercises and counter-mapping, the studio explores people's socio-cultural relations with the ocean. Together, the studio's interventions are beginning to resituate previously erased and forgotten connections with Shark Island. This work also highlights cultural and spiritual relations with the ocean that persist despite this dispossession. Namibia's ocean and coasts are not empty spaces to be exploited for the benefit of Europe's energy future. A deeper understanding of histories, and present day connections, provide lessons for meaningful reconciliation.
