The Northern Cape has launched its South Africa Green Hydrogen Vision strategy, outlining plans to establish the region as a hub for green hydrogen in the country.

The Northern Cape Economic Development Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA) plans to increase South Africa’s national green hydrogen production capacity by 10 million tons per year by 2050, says acting CEO of NCEDA, Hendrick Louw. The region aims to harness its renewable energy sources for electrolysis to produce hydrogen, Louw adds.

The announcement follows the commencement of a feasibility study and environmental assessment conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the South African National Energy Development Institute in March.

The strategic environmental assessment, which is expected to take place over 18 to 24 months, will investigate the opportunities and constraints in developing the hub for the Boegoebaai Port and Namakwa region.

The study will focus on addressing the sustainability aspects of the proposed port and special economic zone, which will cover an area of 33 500 hectares.

“The production of green hydrogen will supplement the grid, reduce the cost of electricity and reduce the pressure of the energy network in South Africa. In South Africa, we can immediately produce for our upstream market and, by the time the global market establishes itself, we have a production feedstock that we can immediately sell,” says Louw.