EASTERN CAPE BUILDS MOMENTUM TOWARDS A THRIVING GREEN HYDROGEN FUTURE

The Eastern Cape took a significant step towards establishing a thriving and inclusive Green Hydrogen (GH2) economy as it hosted the Green Hydrogen/Power-to-X (PtX) Roadshow on the 19th of February in Gqeberha. The roadshow forms part of a week-long line-up of green hydrogen events from 18 to 21 February 2025. The roadshow, an important milestone in the province’s green hydrogen journey, was hosted by Green Hydrogen South Africa with the support of GIZ in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT). This initiative follows successful roadshows in the Northern and Western Cape provinces in 2024. This also builds on a series of workshops hosted by DEDEAT and GIZ over the last two years.

Aimed at strengthening collaboration and enhancing knowledge sharing among key stakeholders, the roadshow provided a platform for shared insights and dialogue on key subject in the green hydrogen sector.

The week long programme features a series of engagements, including:

• Technical Workshop on Green Hydrogen Implementation Planning at NMU Ocean Science Conference Centre (18 February 2025).
• Green Hydrogen SA & DEDEAT Green Hydrogen / PtX Roadshow at Running Waters (19 February 2025).
• Green Hydrogen Power-to-X Training for Decision Makers in the Public and Private Sector, at NMU (20-21 February 2025). The workshop will be run by University of Western Cape and South Africa Institute of Advanced Material Chemistry

The workshop discussions reflected on key Green Hydrogen and Power-to-X studies undertaken in South Africa, and in the Eastern Cape. Delegates engaged in strategic dialogue on critical aspects such as site selection, community development, financial feasibility, environmental impact integration, investment, infrastructure planning, and policy alignment.

Green hydrogen is poised to play a transformative role in driving industrial competitiveness and economic growth in the Eastern Cape. As global environmental regulations tighten, including the implications of climate change policies, the adoption of green hydrogen presents a vital opportunity for the province to decarbonise industries while enhancing economic resilience.

“Green hydrogen can be a key enabler in achieving a sustainable and inclusive economy for the Eastern Cape. It holds immense potential for job creation, skills development and infrastructure investment, benefiting both local consumption and export markets,” said MEC for DEDEAT, Ms Nonkqubela Pieters.

The Eastern Cape’s Special Economic Zones (Coega and East London SEZs) are positioned as strategic hubs for the first commercial-scale green hydrogen production projects.

The roadshow brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including representatives from provincial and national government, state-owned entities, municipalities, private sector companies, civil society and research institutions. Participants included International Green Hydrogen experts, environmental experts, the Industrial Development Corporation, the Development Bank of South Africa, The South African National Energy Development Institute, NMB Business Chamber, \Green Hydrogen Solutions, Volkswagen, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Nelson Mandela University (NMU), the University of the Western Cape (UWC), and civil society organisations such as WESSA, EarthLife Africa, and Inspire.

The collaborative engagement of these stakeholders underscores the growing momentum towards a green hydrogen economy in the Eastern Cape. By fostering knowledge exchange and building capacity among decision-makers, the province is well-positioned to leverage green hydrogen as a catalyst for economic transformation and environmental sustainability.