The groundbreaking H2ATLAS-AFRICA project, a joint effort by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and African partners in Sub-Saharan Africa (SADC and ECOWAS countries), concluded on May 2nd, 2024, at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany. Dr. Peter Jansens, Member of the Board of Directors, welcomed participants at the closing ceremony.
The project’s focus was on exploring the potential for hydrogen production from renewable energy sources across Sub-Saharan Africa. The results are nothing short of remarkable – the project has identified enormous potential for large-scale production of green hydrogen throughout the region.
Dr. Peter Jansens, Member of the Board of Directors at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany.
During his welcoming remarks Dr. Peter Jansens said the successful completion of the H2Atlas Africa project that we are celebrating today has shown us there is enough renewable energy capacity potential to produce renewable energy in those countries to meet local demand as well as to build an export economy for Green Hydrogen. On this Journey towards a cleaner future, the collaboration with Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) and West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) was crucial for the success of this hydrogen Atlas.
Beyond the scientific discovery, the project also highlighted the power of collaboration. Dr. Jane Olwoch, Executive Director of SASSCAL, which coordinated the H2Atlas-Africa Project in 12 SADC countries, celebrated the project’s success at the closing event.
“We have produced an amazing tool, one of a kind,” Dr. Olwoch remarked. “We assembled key expertise across our countries. In Southern Africa alone, the project involved about 100 people, including national teams, regional technical committees, and staff from SACREEE and SASSCAL. Additionally, several Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and energy and climate change experts participated in our workshops.”
Dr. Jane Olwoch, Executive Director of SASSCAL
The H2Atlas Project’s impact on Southern Africa has been truly significant: The project ignited a wave of enthusiasm and buy-in from research institutions, scientists, policymakers, and even young people. As Dr. Christoph Röevekamp stated at the virtual kick-off meeting, “Green Hydrogen is a game-changer,” and Dr Solomon Agbo echoed the sentiment, calling it a “green Hydrogen Revolution.” This enthusiasm spread rapidly, sparking conversations about green hydrogen’s potential around the world. The project fostered the creation of multidisciplinary teams, a first of its kind, comprised of experts in energy, water, land, climate, socio-economics, law, GIS, and mathematics. These diverse teams fostered innovation through deep discussions and the generation of new ideas.
This impressive collaboration resulted in the H2Atlas Africa Tool, a valuable resource that has already sparked discussions on further projects and applications. Potential applications for green hydrogen include its use in the health sector, production of derivative fuels, desalination options, policy development, and even export opportunities.
Sowing the Seeds for the Future: The H2 Atlas Project has laid the groundwork for future green hydrogen projects. In Namibia, for instance, the BMBF has funded scholarships through the “Youth for Green Hydrogen” programme. Currently, 74 students are enrolled in the program, with 48 participating in an exchange program in Germany. Several pilot projects are already underway to produce green hydrogen: The Daures Green Hydrogen Village – Africa’s first green hydrogen village, The Cleanergy Refuelling Station in Walvis Bay and The Hyrail project. These advancements demonstrate the project’s ability to translate potential into real-world applications.
The results for West Africa and Southern Africa are already available on the project’s interactive map, showcasing the region’s vast potential for green hydrogen production. The map allows users to explore these “hotspots” and stay updated as results from other areas are added: https://www.h2atlas.de/en/
The project has positioned SADC countries to pursue further green hydrogen and green ammonia projects. Green ammonia, crucial for ensuring sustainable food security in the face of climate change, holds immense potential. By leveraging the unique strengths of each SADC countries, a regional green ammonia project could be highly successful. The development of a regional integration strategy, possibly building upon the existing SADC Green Hydrogen Strategy, is also an important consideration for future endeavours.
The success of the H2ATLAS-AFRICA project paves the way for a more sustainable energy future in Sub-Saharan Africa. By harnessing the region’s abundant renewable resources for green hydrogen production, Africa can move towards a cleaner and more secure energy landscape.
