The projected start later this month of a new initiative under the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Global Clean Hydrogen Programme (GCHP) represents a major milestone in South Africa’s transition to a greener hydrogen economy, says National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA) strategy and innovation manager Lee-Hendor Ruiters.

The centre is working closely with UNIDO, which serves as the Global Project Coordination Unit, along with seven other participating countries, to help decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors and support the establishment of new green industries.

“These advancements will help position South Africa as a regional leader in green hydrogen,” he adds.

The NCPC-SA is the official local executing entity for the project and will be responsible for ensuring that the GCHP is implemented effectively. It will make use of the technical expertise of the Green Hydrogen team at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in delivering the project.

It will also be instrumental in setting up the national project coordination unit, convening the project steering committee and beginning key activities such as stakeholder mapping and policy gap assessments.

In managing the unit, the NCPC-SA will oversee technical activities, coordinate with stakeholders and ensure that everything aligns with national priorities and the GCHP’s global objectives.

The NCPC-SA is also the link between local implementation and the global coordination led by UNIDO.

“We are planning a launch later in the year to align with a series of planned events and will also do media engagements to raise awareness and highlight the programme’s importance,” says Ruiters.

Through the assistance of the future-ready UNIDO Global Knowledge Platform, the NCPC-SA will share South Africa’s experiences and expertise while learning from others and participate in global working groups on topics such as policy, standards, innovation and financing.

This international collaboration will ensure that the country’s hydrogen strategy is aligned with global best practices and that it is contributing to a broader clean energy transition.

Steps Taken

Ruiters says the NCPC-SA’s main goal is to contribute to South Africa’s transitioning to a net-zero developmental pathway by supporting the establishment of conducive conditions for clean hydrogen – specifically green hydrogen – to thrive.

“Through this five-year project, we are focusing on strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks, improving technical readiness in key sectors, such as industry and transport, and supporting pilot projects in special economic zones (SEZs) and industrial development zones (IDZs).”

Some work is already happening in this space. The East IDZ has taken the initiative and completed a prefeasibility study for a green hydrogen pilot plant that will serve local industries and potentially support export opportunities.

“These are real, on-the-ground projects that demonstrate how hydrogen can drive industrial growth and decarbonisation,” lauds Ruiters.

The centre will also assist in facilitating access to finance and promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Ruiters explains that providing a hands-on role in shaping an enabling environment will enable the NCPC-SA to conduct gap assessments on hydrogen standards and SEZ incentives, as well as support the development of domestic certification schemes.

Further, by offering technical assistance for pilot projects and engaging with stakeholders across government, industry and finance, the NCPC-SA can feed into the broader national strategy, thereby helping to ensure that South Africa is ready to scale green hydrogen production and use.

“It is a comprehensive approach that supports climate goals and industrial development,” he avers, adding that the centre is committed to ensuring that this transition benefits everyone, especially women and youth.

The GCHP is not just about clean energy – it is about inclusive, sustainable development he adds.

“We are proud to be part of this global effort and look forward to seeing the impact it will have on our economy, our environment and our communities. This is an exciting time for South Africa,” concludes Ruiters.