By Levy Masiteng
The Saldanha Bay area is poised to become a central hub for green hydrogen production and export, according to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The CSIR has been appointed to coordinate Phase 1 of the West Coast Green Hydrogen Master Plan, a flagship initiative under the Western Cape government’s Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap.
The strategic partnership between Freeport Saldanha and CSIR forms part of South Africa’s commitment to position itself as a key player in the global green hydrogen market.
Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, using electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources. It has the potential to replace fossil fuels in sectors where electrification is difficult, such as maritime shipping, heavy industry and long-distance transportation.
“In the Saldanha context, the water would probably need to be sourced from desalination of seawater, if green hydrogen is produced at scale,” said CSIR research group leader, Paul Lochner.
According to CSIR, the hydrogen hub was expected to leverage the area’s strategic location, access to renewable energy resources and strong import-export capabilities.
“Developing a green hydrogen economy is very complex and requires partnerships and investments across the public and private sectors,” Lochner said.
The master plan will be developed in a collaborative manner, bringing together key stakeholders from government, parastatals, private sector and civil society.
The project is aimed at addressing the challenges of climate change and energy supply, while creating an enabling environment for economic growth, job creation and energy security in the Western Cape.
“While being initiated by the Western Cape government, the process also includes the Northern and Eastern Cape authorities, to share insights and facilitate green hydrogen planning amongst the provinces, as well as engaging with potential institutional and financial partners to support the implementation of future phases,” Lochner added.
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