- Hydrogen Rising
- Posts
- Africa’s hydrogen execution gap set to start closing by 2026
Africa’s hydrogen execution gap set to start closing by 2026
Dear subscriber, this is a prototype. Please help us with feedback and tips. Just press reply.
 | The continent’s green hydrogen ambitions are expected to translate into real-world impact by 2026, a new report shows. The number of new projects coming online is likely to grow from just two in 2025 to 13 in 2030, with Egypt, Mauritania and South Africa leading the next wave of development |
African nations hold a dual advantage with abundant renewable energy potential and critical raw materials like platinum group metals, which are vital for manufacturing electrolysers, positioning the continent to play a key role in the green hydrogen economy.
The report highlights persistent barriers that must be overcome to enable large-scale project delivery and long-term competitiveness.
Our take: With the right investments, policies and partnerships, Africa can emerge as a resilient and sustainable hub for green hydrogen innovation and export……..Read more (2 min)
 | As green hydrogen momentum builds across Africa, Norway-based renewable energy company Scatec is spearheading a continent-wide recruitment drive this month. With open roles in South Africa, Tunisia and Egypt, the company accounts for 40% of all listed vacancies (8 out of 20), hiring across technical and supporting roles. |
North Africa leads in regional hiring, accounting for half of all listed roles, driven by activity in Tunisia and Egypt. Southern Africa follows closely with nine positions, including six in South Africa, making it the top hiring country overall.
Engineering roles dominate, with 11 positions reflecting the sector’s build-out phase. Senior leadership roles account for four positions, while business support functions, including finance, planning and ESG, make up the remaining five.
Jobs Board: Explore the latest openings across Africa’s hydrogen sector… Read more (2 min)
 | South Africa took centre stage at the inaugural Africa Green Hydrogen Summit, unveiling a flurry of major announcements. These included $37 million in green hydrogen deals, the launch of the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) and a landmark investment in the country’s first large-scale green ammonia project. |
South Africa stands out in the regional hydrogen economy with a diversified strategy spanning synthetic fuels, industrial green hydrogen and mobility-focused applications like fuel cell transport.
Its competitive edge lies in abundant renewable resources, including world-leading platinum group metal (PGM) reserves critical for PEM electrolysers and fuel cells, and a well-established industrial base.
Our take: South Africa’s momentum is a wake-up call to African peers: The continent can drive its own hydrogen-led industrial transformation..… Read more (2 min)
_________//___________
President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the inaugural Africa Green Hydrogen Summit
Events
🗓️ Attend the 2nd edition of Green Hydrogen Morocco camp for youths (July 7)
🗓️ 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)
Various
🏭 South Africa’s Western Cape region to produce and export green hydrogen by 2035
👷 By 2050, green hydrogen could create up to 4 million jobs in Africa
💰 Egypt, Namibia and S. Africa selected for inaugural $1 billion for green transition
🏧 South Africa receives $500 million funding to support coal-exit plan
🗨️ Read President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech at the Africa Green Hydrogen Summit
✅ South Africa’s first-ever green hydrogen skills programmes approved
🚺 GIZ releases report on boosting women's role in S. Africa’s green hydrogen sector
Seen on LinkedIn
Harro von Blottnitz, a professor of sustainable development at the University of Cape Town says, “It is irrational to expect green hydrogen to play any significant role in South Africa’s domestic economy in the 2030s unless the country adopts an ambitious GHG reduction target in its next NDC update.”