Water Wheel Jan/Feb 2022: Opinion

Abstract

Prospects and limitations for a hydrogen economy in South Africa In South Africa, the process of building up a hydrogen economy is closely associated with the decarbonisation of energy generation, which is based primarily on the coal-fired power station. This process is being focused in South Africa on extensive development of renewable energy, mainly by the on-shore wind and solar radiation by means of solar photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies. The other technologies and resources available and suitable in South Africa are hydropower, biomass, tidal and wave energy generation, which seem rather unattended and omitted from the future production and export of green hydrogen. Many countries around the world, including South Africa, are weighing up the prospects and limitations of the production and distribution of “green hydrogen” as part of a greener energy economy. So writes Bo Barta.

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