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hydrogen based on natural gas or coal in coun- This optimism appears to be justified, as a num-
tries with low-cost resources. ber of European entities are mulling hydrogen
The IEA’s report found that global hydrogen projects in Africa. For example, Italy’s Snam and a
use is set to increase to 520mn tonnes per year think-tank known as The European House-Am-
by 2070 from 75mn tonnes today, with the fuel brosetti concluded in a recent joint study that solar
set to make a major contribution to the decar- farms in North Africa would be able to turn out
bonisation of transport, industry, buildings and green hydrogen at a price up to 15% lower than
power. comparable Italian facilities. The study suggested
Blue hydrogen would meet 40%, or 210mn that Italy team up with North African countries to
tonnes, of this global hydrogen demand by 2070, serve as a “land bridge” to the European market.
the IEA forecasts. Snam and the think-tank unveiled their
Around 1.9bn tonnes of CO2 will be captured study shortly after Germany and Niger struck
and stored from hydrogen production in 2070, an agreement on the expansion of their exist-
representing around 18% of all CO2 being cap- ing hydrogen partnership into other West Afri-
tured globally in 2070. can states. In late August, the two sides signed
Also, the report finds that the hydrogen pro- documents that will establish the West African
duced by water electrolysis (green hydrogen) Science Service Centre on Climate Change and
and fossil fuels with CCS (blue hydrogen) in total Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) as the vehicle for
low-carbon hydrogen supply is roughly equal up this partnership. WASCAL, which was founded
to 2030. by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and
Today, the cost of CCUS-equipped blue Research (BMBF) in 2012, serves Benin, Burkina
hydrogen production can be around half that of Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana,
producing green hydrogen through electrolysis Mali, Nigeria, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.
powered by renewables-based electricity. BMBF is also providing funding for efforts
After 2030, expected cost reductions for to establish a green hydrogen atlas covering the
electrolysers and renewable energy generation member states of the Southern African Devel-
means that green hydrogen predominates until, opment Community (SADC). Jane Olwoch,
reaching almost 60% by 2070. the executive director of the Southern African
Science Service Centre for Climate Change and
If you’d like to read more about the key events shaping Adaptive Land Management (Sasscal), said
the global renewables market, then please click here recently that the atlas would serve as the starting
for NewsBase’s Renewable Energy Monitor (REM). point of a campaign to assess southern Africa’s
green hydrogen potential. “We’re moving really
Africa’s green hydrogen potential fast,” she told Engineering News & Mining
The International Energy Agency (IEA) believes Weekly.
that the shift toward hydrogen energy has the
potential to benefit Africa. If you’d like to read more about the key events shaping
In its Energy Technology Perspectives 2020 Africa’s oil and gas sector, then please click here for
report, published on September 10, the agency NewsBase’s AfrOil Monitor.
said it expected regions and countries with low-
cost renewable generating capacity to lead the Europe at the forefront
way in green hydrogen production through Europe is at the forefront of hydrogen develop-
electrolysis. It named Africa as one such region. ment. The European Commission published its

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 39 01•October•2020