The Global African Hydrogen Summit will highlight Africas anticipated role in the global hydrogen economy. Scheduled to take place in Windhoek from September 3 to 5, the summit will be themed From Ambition to Action: Fueling Africas Green Industrial Revolution.
A recent report by McKinsey and Company and the Hydrogen Council reveals Africas world-class renewable resources, including wind power with capacity factors up to 69% and solar power at 25%.
As part of Namibias COP28 program, the inaugural summit will be hosted by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia, DMG Events, and Vasco Da Gama Energy.
Africas abundant geothermal, hydro resources, and vast land area position it as a strong contender to become a major producer and exporter of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives.
Roshan Jan-Mahomed, head of marketing for the summit, emphasizes that Africa is crucial for the global decarbonization effort and has the potential to lead in renewable hydrogen production.
Countries including Angola, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Namibia, and South Africa are actively working towards clean hydrogen production goals.
Establishing a sustainable and economically viable hydrogen economy presents several challenges, including financing, investment, infrastructure development, policy, regulation, standards, technology, demand generation, and a fragmented financial market.
The Global African Hydrogen Summit aims to tackle these challenges by fostering partnerships and collaboration across borders and continents. Attendees will include heads of state, ministers, policymakers, developers, investors, technologists, industrialists, and offtakers, who will engage in public-private dialogues, influence policy, define solutions, accelerate project financing, and close deals.
Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba notes that the summit will not only showcase Namibias achievements in the green hydrogen sector but also highlight the efforts of other African nations. He also emphasizes the importance of key policy interventions and financial models needed to bridge the gap between grey and green hydrogen pricing.
To scale up a competitive green hydrogen economy, stimulating domestic demand and foreign offtake will be crucial. The summit will address trade, infrastructure, and technology barriers in sectors like power, agriculture, mining, steel, cement, transportation, and maritime, and seek solutions to de-risk investments and financing for hydrogen projects.
The summit will also present bankable project criteria, green financing mechanisms, and country-specific instruments to accelerate green energy transactions.
Overall, the Global African Hydrogen Summit aims to ignite a new era of energy innovation across Africa and beyond.