Hydrogen Europe Joins African Hydrogen Partnership as Europe Looks to African Energy  

A renewable hydrogen economy will create jobs, economic growth and welfare for Africa and Europe, and contribute to a cleaner, decarbonised world.

Brussels (Belgium), Port Louis (Mauritius), 28 April 2022: Hydrogen Europe, the leading hydrogen and fuel cell association for European-based companies, has become the first Association Member of the African Hydrogen Partnership (AHP). The AHP is the only continent-wide association dedicated to the development of green and naturally occurring hydrogen and fuel cell technology in Africa.

Hydrogen Europe will join the AHP’s Board of Directors to support the development of an African green hydrogen industry and an efficient hydrogen global supply chain.

The EU wants to cut greenhouse emissions by at least 55% by 2030, and the European Commission’s recent REPowerEU plan aims to boost hydrogen production and imports to 20 million tonnes per year by 2030. This would include 5 million tonnes more renewable hydrogen produced in Europe in addition to the 5 million tonnes already planned, and around 10 million tonnes of imported renewable hydrogen from diverse sources, with Africa and the Mediterranean region contributing significantly. Their abundance of sun, wind and land resources will produce renewable hydrogen, helping to break Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels from Russia.

This strategic partnership will serve both domestic and export markets, as outlined by the 2×40 GW Green Hydrogen Initiative. The realisation of renewable hydrogen economies will create jobs, economic growth and welfare for Africa, Europe and other neighbouring areas. At the same time, it will contribute to a cleaner, decarbonised Europe, Africa and world.

AHP Chairman, Dr Innocent Uwuijaren said: “Renewable African hydrogen is essential to the world and Europe meeting its net-zero targets. With the war in Ukraine demonstrating the urgency of Europe’s energy transition and Africa gearing up for COP27 in Egypt, there is no better time to welcome Hydrogen Europe as a board member of the AHP. As Africa ramps up its sustainable energy supply and many of its countries leapfrog to the new age of hydrogen technologies, the AHP is confident that clean, sustainable and renewable African hydrogen will price diesel and petrol out of the market between 2025 and 2030.”  

CEO of Hydrogen Europe, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis stated: “Our collaboration will open new business opportunities for both AHP and Hydrogen Europe’s members and help us build together enabling, aligned and ambitious global frameworks for decarbonisation. We will leverage the recent European investments and leadership in clean hydrogen technologies and Africa’s renewable powerhouse, its agility, and disruptive market orientation, to develop a mutually beneficial energy partnership.”

Developing hydrogen economies in Africa will reduce the economic burden of importing costly refined fossil fuels and create employment and wealth domestically. For Europe, decarbonising existing hydrogen demand, amounting to almost 1.9% of total European emissions, together with its decarbonisation potential in emerging applications in industry, mobility, and storage is instrumental to meet European climate objectives. The development of hydrogen economies will further enhance European industrial and economic competitiveness as European companies are already leaders in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies – 42% of current electrolyser manufacturing capacity is European. While Europe will not be able to produce all its renewable energy locally, Africa offers great potential to produce price competitive renewable hydrogen both for domestic and export markets.