• Hydrogen Rising
  • Posts
  • Here is a blueprint for Africa’s hydrogen siting dilemmas

Here is a blueprint for Africa’s hydrogen siting dilemmas

September 11, 2025

Dear subscriber, this is a prototype. Please help us with feedback. Just press reply.

South Africa has taken a first step in mapping renewable energy zones for green hydrogen by screening environmental and land-use constraints around its major ports. The model blends biodiversity data, land-use conflicts, and infrastructure potential, an approach that could prove useful for other African nations.

  • The GIS-based model shows that hydrogen projects will succeed or fail based on early environmental screening, avoiding costly conflicts with communities, biodiversity, and agriculture.

  • Without such planning, other hydrogen-producing African countries risk fragmented siting battles, as investors demand certainty on land availability, grid capacity and social license to operate.

  • Our take: Early screening of viable corridors is Africa’s best chance to capture export markets, as siting disputes could leave countries trailing better-prepared competitors……..Read more (2 min)

As Kenya leverages its renewable energy potential to produce green ammonia, Sandra Banda says the biggest risks are not technical but economic. Farmers, she notes, are more concerned about cost than climate credentials, while high capital costs make projects difficult to finance. These barriers risk stalling Kenya’s hydrogen-to-fertilizer transition.

  • Ms Banda is a Technical Advisor at GIZ Kenya, supporting the implementation of Kenya’s Green Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap. She contributed as an independent expert to the report Renewable Ammonia: Kenya’s Business Case by H2Global Foundation, Fraunhofer IEE and Strathmore University, published in August 2025.

  • In an interview with Hydrogen Rising, the mechatronics engineer breaks down the report’s findings, arguing that modular, on-site ammonia production for farms and industries could demonstrate early success, while macroeconomic reforms to lower financing rates are essential to attract investment.

  • Find the full conversation here (2 min)

South Africa’s Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has launched a Centre of Excellence for Hydrogen Energy. The Centre will advance research and skills development in green hydrogen, reflecting a wider African trend where universities and technical institutions are establishing platforms linking research with practical training.

  • Despite having significant renewable energy potential to drive a robust green hydrogen economy, inadequate skills and knowledge remain a barrier.

  • Without a skilled workforce, the continent risks remaining a supplier of raw renewable resources rather than a developer of hydrogen innovations

  • Our take: Centres of Excellence can ensure the hydrogen economy supports inclusive growth rather than deepening dependency on external expertise....Read more (2 min)

    ________//__________

    _

Chokri Boumrifal delivers a masterclass at the Global African Hydrogen Summit

Events

🗓️ Attend the Hydrogen-Africa Conference & Expo in South Africa (September 16)

🗓️ Participate in the Forum on Financing Green Hydrogen in Egypt (September 17)

🗓️ Register for the World Power-to-X Summit in Morocco (October 1)

🗓️ Sign up for the 3rd Hydrogen in Africa conference in Egypt (October 28)

 

Jobs

🧕 Serve as a co-CEO at KTE Energy (South Africa)

🧕 Apply for Sector Lead Energy position at SNV (Mozambique)

🧕 Be the next Senior Business Developer at HDF Energy (South Africa)

🧕 Work as a Senior Business Developer at HDF Energy (Namibia

Various 

💱 Algeria courts European and Gulf investors in green hydrogen

❓Experts raise concerns over South Africa’s green hydrogen ambitions

📜 Report: Southern African minerals key to energy transition overlooked by investors

👊 Six principles to ensure energy transition is in harmony with nature

🟢 Egypt in talks with Belgium’s DEME on port, green energy investments

🔢 Hyphen Hydrogen Energy launches green hydrogen skills census in Namibia

Seen on LinkedIn 

InnovateMaritime Africa says, “ If African ports build green fuel hubs for cleaner options like methanol or ammonia, we could become important stops in future global trade. If regional shipping companies move early toward greener ships, they may win easier access to big markets like the European Union, which already favours cleaner supply chains.”