Africa as a new hotspot for green hydrogen: Innovation or illusion?

Africa as a new hotspot for green hydrogen: Innovation or illusion?

Europe plans to increasingly cover its need for green hydrogen through production in Africa. A current study by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) However, it has shown that the financing costs for production facilities in African countries are higher than previously assumed. The analysis showed that only two percent of around 10,000 locations examined could be competitive for export to Europe.

The study highlights that purchase and price guarantees by European countries are a crucial prerequisite for the competitiveness of green hydrogen from Africa. Green hydrogen, which is obtained through electrolysis using renewable energies, is important for climate-friendly industrial production, including in the steel industry. The first hydrogen production projects in Africa are being planned, but most are still in the design phase.

Challenges and opportunities of hydrogen production

Florian Egli from TUM emphasizes that many African countries are considered particularly risky for investments due to their economic and political conditions. To analyze these challenges, the research team developed a new financing cost calculation method that takes into account specific conditions in 31 African countries. Due to their good solar and wind conditions, these regions offer ideal potential for the production of renewable energy, which is crucial for the production of green hydrogen.

The H2ATLAS AFRICA project, which examines the potential of green hydrogen in West, East and Southern Africa, has, for example, highlighted hydrogen production in the sub-Saharan region. This project not only provides valuable data about the potential of generation, but also promotes the training of specialists in the field of renewable energy.

Future prospects for hydrogen

Green hydrogen can help stabilize Africa's energy supply and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Export opportunities, particularly to Germany, are steadily growing as demand for green hydrogen increases in Europe. A final final report from the H2ATLAS-AFRICA project is still awaited and could contain important recommendations for international energy cooperation.

Hydrogen also plays a central role in the future energy system and is needed as a secondary energy source for the chemical industry, the steel sector, as well as in transport and shipping. Loud Federal Environment Agency The federal government's long-term planning shows that hydrogen electrolysers with 5 GW are to be installed by 2030 in order to provide a significant amount of 14 terawatt hours of hydrogen.

In summary, green hydrogen production in Africa is a promising but challenging endeavor. The right framework conditions and international cooperation will be crucial in order to exploit the full potential of this key technology for climate protection.