The green hydrogen sector is still in its infancy in Africa, but with its phased expansion, the continent could reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions and address long-standing energy deficits. Recent deals signed could serve to catalyze the advancement of the African green hydrogen market.
Mauritania’s Project Nour: 600,000 tons of green hydrogen
Intending to supply Europe with a stable green hydrogen supply, London-listed, Chariot Energy Group signed a deal with the Dutch Port of Rotterdam, for the import of an estimated 600,000 tons of green hydrogen to be produced by the proposed 10 GW Project Nour in Mauritania, annually.
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The $3.5 billion deal has potential to see the project become Africa’s largest green hydrogen export operation, with a focus on servicing European markets. Project Nour is set to have up to 10 GW of electrolysis installed and is on track to becoming one of the world’s largest green hydrogen projects by 2030.
Egypt-UAE production plants: 480,000 tons of green hydrogen
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) investment platform, Hassan Allam Utilities and public renewable energy company, Masdar have inked two agreements with key Egyptian state-backed entities namely, the General Authority for Suez Canal Economic Zone (SC Zone); the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA); the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) and the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) to collaborate on developing green hydrogen production plants in the SC Zone and on the Mediterranean coast. The agreements target an electrolyzer capacity of 4 GW by 2030, and a total production output of 480,000 tons of green hydrogen annually.
Namibia’s HYPHEN Hydrogen Energy: 300,000 tons
Located in the Tsau//Khaeb National Park, southwestern Namibia, the green hydrogen project is expected to have a production capacity of 300 000 tons annually. The Namibian-based green energy supplier, Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen) was the preferred bidder to construct Namibia’s unprecedented large-scale green hydrogen project. With production earmarked for 2026, the $9.4 billion combined investment will significantly help establish the Green Hydrogen economy in southern Africa.
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Egypt’s Waste-to-Hydrogen Facility: 300,000 tons of green hydrogen
Germany’s H2-Industries has entered into an agreement with the government of Egypt for green hydrogen production in the East Port Said Industrial Zone in north-eastern Egypt. Through this project, H2-Industries will convert organic waste and non-renewable plastic waste into green hydrogen. With a plant electrolysis capacity of 1 GW, the project will have capacity to annually produce 300,000 tons of hydrogen while disposing of 4 million tons of non-recyclable and organic waste.
Enara Capital-Total Eren Proposed Green Hydrogen Project: 30,000 tons
Subsidiary of TotalEnergies, Total Eren have partnered with Egypt’s Enara Capital, to seal deals with the SCZone, the TSFE, the EETC and the NREA. With the cooperation and approval from these Egyptian authorities, the partners aim for green hydrogen feasibility studies for the Gulf of Suez, with scope for annual production of up to 30,000 tons of green hydrogen.
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Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance: 500 kilotons of green hydrogen
Endowed with significant hydrogen potential, six African countries including Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, and South Africa, recently launched the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA) at the first Hydrogen Global Assembly in Barcelona, Spain. The alliance aims to be at the forefront of developing Africa’s green hydrogen economy.
