The strategic conference programme of this year’s Global African Hydrogen Summit will present significant thought leadership and insights from government heads, industry leaders, technology experts and energy pioneers.

The summit – themed Ambition in Action: Fuelling Africa’s Green Industrialisation – will advocate, showcase and communicate the case for hydrogen, its derivatives and renewable-energy technologies as an underpinning solution to a lower-carbon energy system and the blueprint for a green industrial economy, says summit organiser dmg events’ Africa content head Tiago Marques.

The summit will be held at the Windhoek International Convention Centre, in Namibia, from September 9 to 11. It is expected to draw about 1 500 attendees from around the world.

“This year’s theme reflects the progress we’ve witnessed across the continent on several key hydrogen and green energy projects,” Marques says.

These projects are part of a global movement to transition quicker towards a cleaner, low-carbon economy. This shift involves different solutions and types of technology – including using clean hydrogen, which is affordable, scalable and environment friendly – to store and use energy.

“To make this happen, we need new ideas and innovations along the entire hydrogen value chain, from production through to consumption,” says Marques.

It is also important for governments, businesses and industries to work together and build large-scale infrastructure, which will help to create strong demand for hydrogen and ensure that local and regional benefits are maximised as this new world market develops.

Frontrunner

Namibia is increasingly regarded as a top location for developing renewable-energy sources and producing green hydrogen.

“The Namibian government is fully committed to position the country as a global energy producer and a leader in green industrialisation,” adds Marques.

Its port infrastructure is undergoing significant developments, Marques adds, noting that “Namibia is considered one of Africa’s more stable democracies, making it a particularly enabling environment in which to operate.”

It also has a clear legal framework, and the government has established the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme to lead the critical activities in country and facilitate global partnerships with international governments and private investors from Japan, South Korea and those from the EU bloc including Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.

Event with a Purpose

While last year’s inaugural summit aimed to establish Africa’s foundational role in the new global energy system, Marques says this year’s summit primarily aims to stimulate critical demand generation strategies that are essential to market creation.

“This will be achieved through the development of hydrogen supply and innovative low-carbon technologies, accelerated by green industrial policies.”

These policies will be supported by fit-for-purpose finance and investment models, and bolstered by collaborative partnerships across governments, markets and the energy industry to ensure secure, reliable and affordable energy access for all.

The summit’s programme centres around eight pillars that form the basis of the discussions. They cover issues within the energy and hydrogen value chains, including the role of hydrogen in the multifaceted global energy mix and the opportunities it presents for Africa.

The programme also emphasises amplifying the impact of policies and regulatory frameworks to stimulate hydrogen trade and enhance its competitive advantages in a diverse global energy landscape.

“The event also aims to de-risk finance and investment to scale hydrogen and energy infrastructure, aligning global supply and demand,” states Marques.

Further, the summit will explore how advancing Africa’s energy ecosystem and promoting low-carbon technology scalability can drive economic development.

It will also highlight the transformative power of green industrialisation and associated localisation efforts in shaping an equitable energy transition.

The programme will incorporate strategic and technical inputs from key industry experts. The expectation is that the summit will not only address the industry's most pressing challenges and bottlenecks but also facilitate collaboration and cooperation to identify solutions.

“Over the three dynamic days, participants are encouraged to move from ambition to action, with concrete action plans aimed at shaping the industry’s future leading into the G20 and COP30 meetings,” enthuses Marques.

The summit will help to shape and frame critical dialogues, positioning Africa at the forefront of the ongoing global energy transformation.

“The Global African Hydrogen Summit exemplifies how critical investments in green energy infrastructure can unlock Africa’s economic potential, creating a more sustainable, connected and prosperous future for millions of Africans,” concludes Marques.