Government, in collaboration with the private sector, is putting plans in place to roll out hydrogen fuel cell technologies in various parts of South Africa, as alternative energy sources to the country’s electricity grid.
Speaking in Pretoria today, the Director-General of Science and Innovation (DSI), Dr Phil Mjwara, said that such partnerships would enable government to take alternative energy to rural areas, contributing to the growth of the country’s green economy.
The Director-General was speaking at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria, where the government has set up a field hospital to prepare for a potential increase in COVID-19 patients.
The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) unveiled seven hydrogen fuel cell systems as the primary power source for the field hospital, which has facilities for testing and screening, as well as life-saving equipment such as ventilators in the intensive care unit.
The project is a partnership between the DSI, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the Department of Defence and private companies like Bambili Energy, which is committed to commercialising intellectual property developed through the DSI’s Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) programme.
Hydrogen fuel cell technologies are globally recognised for their potential to decarbonise the energy and transport sectors. Fuel cells produce electricity by means of a chemical reaction, using hydrogen as the basic fuel and platinum-based catalysts. Besides being efficient and reliable, fuel cells can be deployed rapidly and scaled up easily as the need arises, and their maintenance costs are relatively low.
“Bambili Energy is working on an initiative to take some of these fuels cells to rural areas in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. This is the start, but the idea is to roll the project out to various parts of South Africa,” said Dr Mjwara.
South Africa’s Secretary for Defence, Ambassador Sonto Kudjoe, remarked that the field hospital was now operating using only the fuel cell systems, while the Eskom electricity grid served as back-up.
“It is encouraging that there was an opportunity to scale up the project. We can extend the systems to many parts of the country and relieve the burden on Eskom, while transferring skills in the development of hydrogen fuel cells in the country,” said Ambassador Kudjoe.
The support provided to 1 Military Hospital will be complemented by hands-on training, involving government officials and unemployed college graduates with N4 electrical engineering (light and heavy current) qualifications.
Zanele Mavuso Mbatha, CEO of Bambili Energy, expressed excitement at leading the deployment of the fuel cell systems to contribute to government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is also an opportunity to demonstrate the potential role alternative energy sources can play in our everyday lives, given South Africa’s growing energy challenges,” said Ms Mavuso Mbatha.
“Bambili Energy believes this collaboration further illustrates the importance attached to the development of the hydrogen economy in South Africa. The growth of this sector also stands to have a material impact on the economy, particularly in regard to employment creation and the development of complementary industries, in its supply chain and many others,” said Ms Mbatha.
Further contributions in the form of methanol and hydrogen for the fuel cell units were received from Air Products South Africa, Protea Chemicals and Sasol.
“We look forward to this exciting partnership, and to working with the Bambili group and the various government departments involved in the project, as well as doing our bit to contribute towards the ongoing fight against COVID-19,” said Pieter Swart, Protea Chemicals Interim Managing Director.
Given its experience in the production and handling of hydrogen, which it uses to produce liquid fuels, fuel gas and chemicals, Sasol will be donating 10 000 litres of methanol and 600 kg of hydrogen monthly until April 2021 to help power the field facility.
“We are deliberately pursuing renewable energy sources through technology, innovation and collaboration, and sustainably produced hydrogen is integral to reducing our carbon footprint across our operations,” said Charlotte Mokoena, Executive Vice President for Human Resources and Corporate Affairs at Sasol.
Other partners in the initiative include South Africa’s HyPlat, Singapore’s Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, the US company Element One, and Powercell Sweden.
Issued by the Department of Science and Innovation.
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