Africa’s green hydrogen sector embraces clustering

July 09, 2025

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Africa’s green hydrogen sector embraces clustering

Namibia has announced the designation of Arandis and the Port of Walvis Bay as strategic hydrogen hubs, reinforcing a growing continental trend toward place-based industrial ecosystems. As countries move from planning to implementation, clustering is emerging as a preferred model to drive green hydrogen development across Africa.

  • Clustering is increasingly seen as a way to scale green hydrogen infrastructure efficiently, by concentrating production and logistics in shared industrial zones.

  •  Countries are anchoring projects in ports and corridors to reduce permitting delays, attract capital and accelerate implementation.

  • Our take: The emergence of hydrogen clusters across Africa signals a shift from vision to implementation……..Read more (2 min)

Southern Africa dominated green hydrogen investments in June 2025, accounting for all major funding commitments across the continent. The Hydrogen Rising funding tracker shows that leading players South Africa and Namibia secured $307 million in concessional loans and grants to advance flagship projects and infrastructure.

  • South Africa led in both the number and diversity of deals, taking two of the three transactions, comprising a mix of concessional loans and grants totalling $57 million.

  • Meanwhile, neighbouring Namibia secured the single largest commitment, a $250 million grant, accounting for 81% of the total funding available.

  • Our take: Southern Africa’s dominance in funding showcases the region’s desire to position itself as a continental leader in green hydrogen… Read more (2 min)

A July 2025 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) says Africa could become a global leader in green hydrogen trade by 2050, thanks to its vast renewable energy potential and critical raw materials. However, high capital costs could prevent the continent from fully participating in the emerging hydrogen economy.

  • Under equal financing conditions, Africa could be a top global exporter of green hydrogen, alongside Latin America and the Middle East.

  • But when real-world financing risks are factored in, Africa’s advantage declines, allowing lower-risk economies with weaker resources, such as the United States, Australia and China, to dominate hydrogen trade flows.

  • Our take: Africa’s success hinges not just on its natural resource base, but on its ability to fix finance.… Read more (2 min)

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Participants at the ongoing Green Hydrogen Morocco Camp for youths pose for a photo

Events

🗓️ Sign up for the Global African Hydrogen Summit in Namibia (September 9)

🗓️ Participate in Africa Energy Week in South Africa (September 29)

🗓️ Be part of the Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) in Ghana (November 12))

Jobs

 👷 Serve as green hydrogen training Project Manager at ICU (Kenya)

👷 Apply for Shift Engineer role at Globeleq (Kenya)

👷 Ensure HyIron preserves Namib desert ecosystem (Namibia)

👷 Manage financial planning for HyIron as Finance Manager (Namibia)

Various 

🔊 Hive Hydrogen invites proposals for $5.8 Billion South Africa plant

💰 Green hydrogen among beneficiaries of $470 million AfDB loan to South Africa

💱 Germany funds Youth for Green Hydrogen Scholarship programme in Namibia

🤝 Lloyd’s Register to partner with DAI for new green ammonia plant in Egypt

✅ Morocco secures land rights for Chbika green hydrogen project

Seen on LinkedIn 

UN Trade and Development Africa says, “As the world shifts to cleaner energy, Africa is emerging as a strategic player, particularly in green hydrogen. This momentum in the green hydrogen economy presents a chance for Africa to lead in clean energy innovation, industrial transformation, and sustainable development.”