African countries are exploring hydrogen exports to Europe
African hydrogen: Just energy transition or renewed energy colonialism?
The continent could see billions of dollars in GDP from hydrogen development over the coming decades. But a recent report argues the rush to develop projects for export to Europe will outsource negative impacts of development to the Global South
Africa is increasingly gaining ground as a major hydrogen production centre, with strong potential for exports to Europe. But while governments and developers claim that green hydrogen will boost African economies and facilitate a just energy transition—where countries most at risk of climate change benefit from the solutions—critics warn this drive for African hydrogen could ultimately represent a new version of energy colonialism. Africa’s total announced electrolyser pipeline capacity has reached 114GW, 70GW of which is in the sub-Saharan region, according to consultancy Rystad Energy. Mauritania covers 50pc of this announced capacity, followed by South Africa and Namibia. While FID has b
Also in this section
21 March 2025
European Hydrogen Bank auction is four times oversubscribed, while industry remains on pause in US amid IRA subsidy uncertainty
21 March 2025
The country is engaging with potential investors from North America and China as it refines its auction process to reflect shifting dynamics in green hydrogen, Hydrom’s managing director tells Hydrogen Economist
13 March 2025
Government awards €1.21b of funding to seven large-scale projects as it chases capacity target of 12GW by 2030
12 March 2025
Speakers at this year’s CERAWeek conference noted the growing interest in green hydrogen, but hurdles such as cost remain to its adoption at scale
