Q&A: The trade-offs between small and large-scale hydrogen projects

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Africa's green hydrogen market needs both smaller and large-scale projects, says energy expert Hillary Chesebe. He argues that smaller projects offer distinct advantages over larger ones, but their size also creates constraints that could limit their ability to scale, making coexistence between the two models likely.

• “I don't think one will dominate the other. We will have both of them progressing at the same time, simply because of the way the market is. Those that prefer to have small-scale projects and have the infrastructure can use that, while those that do not have that kind of infrastructure can continue to get their hydrogen from larger-scale projects. Both models will continue to coexist,” he says.

• Mr Chesebe is a renewable energy expert with interests in green hydrogen, the green transition and climate finance. In green hydrogen, he has provided energy advisory services for on-site project development targeting industrial off-takers and was involved in the development of Kenya's second green ammonia project, a captive plant that reached financial close in December 2025.

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