Green hydrogen: Africa is not Europe’s battery | African Arguments

Green hydrogen: Africa is not Europe’s battery | African Arguments

As Europe races to wean itself off fossil fuels and meet its ambitious net-zero emissions targets, the continent is increasingly looking to Africa as a hub for green hydrogen production. Countries across the African continent, from Tunisia to Namibia, are rushing to capitalize on this opportunity, signing a flurry of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with European energy giants and governments. However, the narrative of “Africa as Europe’s battery” risks repeating the continent’s colonial extractive past, unless a radical shift in the balance of power and benefits can be achieved.

Africa’s Renewable Energy Potential

Africa is blessed with an abundance of renewable energy resources, from the Saharan sun to the wind-swept coasts of North and South Africa. ​Countries like Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa are already making strides in harnessing these assets, with ambitious targets to derive 50% or more of their electricity from renewables by 2030. This renewable energy potential makes Africa an attractive partner for Europe’s hydrogen ambitions.

Challenges to Africa’s Hydrogen Development

Yet, the rush to develop green hydrogen projects in Africa is not without its pitfalls. Many of the proposed projects threaten to exacerbate existing water scarcity and land-use conflicts, while failing to address the pressing energy access challenges faced by millions of Africans. In Tunisia, for example, the government’s green hydrogen strategy aims to use 248 million cubic meters of desalinated water by 2050 — an amount equal to the consumption of five million Tunisian citizens in a country already facing severe water stress.

Additionally, there are concerns that the economic benefits of these projects may be limited, as African nations continue to export raw materials with lower added value while importing high-tech equipment and expertise from Europe. This mirrors the colonial-era patterns of resource extraction that have long hindered Africa’s development.

Opportunities for European-African Hydrogen Collaboration

However, the potential for mutually beneficial European-African collaboration on hydrogen is not lost. By prioritizing domestic energy access and infrastructure development alongside export ambitions, African nations can leverage their renewable resources to drive sustainable economic growth. Crucial to this will be securing favorable terms in negotiations with European partners, ensuring that a fair share of the value created by hydrogen projects remains within Africa.

Geopolitics of Hydrogen in Africa

Decolonizing the Hydrogen Narrative

The push for green hydrogen in Africa has been heavily influenced by European interests, with Germany’s development agency GIZ playing a significant role in shaping Tunisia’s hydrogen strategy. This dynamic has led to accusations of a new form of “energy imperialism,” where the Global North seeks to extract resources from the Global South to meet its own decarbonization goals. Challenging this narrative and asserting African energy sovereignty will be crucial in redefining the partnership on more equitable terms.

Resource Sovereignty and Benefit Sharing

African nations must take a firm stance in demanding that hydrogen projects deliver tangible benefits to local communities, beyond just job creation. This could include requirements for investing in domestic energy infrastructure, technology transfer, and equitable revenue-sharing mechanisms. By prioritizing resource sovereignty and local development, Africa can break free from the extractive dynamics of the past.

Partnerships for Equitable Hydrogen Trade

Successful partnerships will require a delicate balance of interests, with European countries seeking reliable energy supplies and African nations seeking to maximize the developmental impact of their renewable resources. This may involve creative financing arrangements, such as carbon offset schemes or innovative Power Purchase Agreements that ensure fair returns for African producers.

African Hydrogen Hubs and Projects

Pioneering Hydrogen Initiatives

Across the continent, countries are already taking the lead in developing green hydrogen projects. In Namibia, the government has partnered with international companies to build one of the world’s largest green hydrogen plants, aiming to export the fuel to Europe. Similarly, Morocco is positioning itself as a key hub for hydrogen production and export to the European Union.

Regional Hydrogen Cooperation

Beyond individual national efforts, there are also emerging initiatives for regional cooperation on hydrogen development. The African Hydrogen Partnership, for example, brings together stakeholders from across the continent to coordinate strategies and share best practices. Such collaborative approaches can help African nations leverage their collective bargaining power and ensure a more equitable distribution of benefits.

Scaling up Hydrogen Infrastructure

To unlock the full potential of green hydrogen in Africa, significant investments in infrastructure will be required. This includes the construction of electrolyzers, renewable energy installations, and the development of hydrogen transportation and storage networks. Securing the necessary financing, both from domestic and international sources, will be crucial in scaling up Africa’s hydrogen economy.

Hydrogen as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development

Decarbonizing African Industries

The rise of green hydrogen presents an opportunity for African nations to decarbonize their industrial sectors, reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to global climate action. This could include the production of “green steel” using hydrogen-based reduction processes, or the use of hydrogen as a feedstock for the production of sustainable aviation fuels and fertilizers.

Hydrogen for Energy Access and Mobility

Beyond industrial applications, hydrogen also holds promise for improving energy access and sustainable mobility in Africa. Distributed hydrogen-based energy systems could bring clean, reliable power to remote communities, while the use of hydrogen in transportation, particularly for heavy-duty vehicles, can help to address the continent’s air pollution challenges.

Just Transition and Local Capacity Building

Realizing the full benefits of the hydrogen economy will require significant investments in local skills and knowledge. African governments should prioritize initiatives that build domestic technological capabilities, foster local innovation, and ensure that the transition to a hydrogen-based future is inclusive and equitable for all. This will be crucial in unlocking the transformative potential of hydrogen for sustainable development across the continent.

The European Future Energy Forum (https://www.europeanfutureenergyforum.com) will be a crucial platform for driving these discussions and forging collaborative pathways between Europe and Africa on the road to a green hydrogen future. By embracing a more equitable and decolonized approach, this partnership can become a model for the kind of mutually beneficial energy transitions the world so desperately needs.

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