South Africa’s green hydrogen (GH2) Research, Development, and Innovation strategy was officially launched in 2008. Critical resources including platinum group metals and world-class wind and solar energy potential have been driving development in the sector and enable opportunities for localization and innovation. Despite a mature GH2 entrepreneurship ecosystem, gaps in sector-specific support structures for startups and innovators limit their growth.
Therefore, Endeva’s ii2030 Green Hydrogen (GH2) edition is set to explore the GH2 system in South Africa and to discuss solutions around the ways startups can collaborate with existing companies in the GH2 value chain.
Endeva uses a unique methodology anchored by key stakeholders to achieve system change. Results of past editions show that it works. Click here to learn more about previous ii2030 editions.to learn more about previous ii2030 editions.
The ii2030 process has identified the following enablers and inhibitors in South Africa as a starting point for our system exploration:
- Gaps in commercialization and offtake as well as an underdeveloped hiring pool limit startup growth
- Traditional resource industries drive transition in the mining sector as well as localization and innovation for GH2 startups
- Vertical integration of large companies can bypass the involvement of startups and innovators altogether
- Despite perceived opportunities and growth in GH2, investment remains a prominent barrier for innovators in the sector
If you are part of the South African GH2 ecosystem and would like to join our discussions around the sector’s future, we invite you to join the process! We will have two online expert consultations on March 9th and 23rd (morning South African time). Write to Samantha Beekman (s.beekman@endeva.org) to join our curated expert group.
ii2030: Green Hydrogen in Africa is powered by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and realized in close collaboration with the MAKE-IT programme run by the German Agency for International Cooperation GmbH (GIZ).