Gas solutions provider Air Liquide South Africa, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and nonprofit the Localisation Support Fund (LSF) on February 27 officially launched the Wits – South Africa Hydrogen Localisation Initiative (Wits-SAHLI), with a contract signing and a ceremonial sodturning ceremony.

Air Liquide is providing R100-million to fund the initiative.

Wits-SAHLI will establish a modular pilot hydrogen plant on Wits’ West Campus, in Johannesburg. The site is designed to support applied research and teaching, on-campus testing of hydrogen applications and provide a derisked entry point for industry partners to explore hydrogen solutions.

The initiative seeks to build the research capacity and local expertise required to contribute to South Africa’s just energy transition towards a low-carbon hydrogen economy.

The facility uses a 110 kW electrolyser to convert water and renewable electricity into low-carbon, or green, hydrogen.

With a storage capacity of 200 kg, the plant can later reconvert this stored hydrogen into clean power, delivering a total electrical output of up to 200 kW during peak operation.

Wits-SAHLI is scheduled to be operational by 2028 and forms part of Air Liquide’s multi-year investment programme supporting the decarbonisation of South Africa.

Speaking at the launch, Energy and Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa called for the permitting and regulation process to be streamlined to allow the initiative start date to be sped up, noting that with the highest office on board, there was potential to expedite this.

Air Liquide Africa, Middle East and India CEO Nicolas Poirot told Engineering News that the company would look to leverage the high-level partnerships available to accelerate the initiative.

This was demonstrated by the attendance of Deputy President Paul Mashatile at the launch, who expressed government’s support for, and welcoming of, the initiative.

“We are excited to be investing in this project, which is truly part of a knowledge transfer approach. By bringing Air Liquide’s 60 years of global hydrogen expertise to Wits-SAHLI, we are providing South Africa with the technical expertise needed to lead the continent's energy transition,” he commented.

“We are proud to be at the forefront of driving innovation that addresses the critical challenges of our time. Wits-SAHLI aligns perfectly with our mission to advance the frontiers of knowledge, produce world-class research and nurture talent that will build new industries and lead in the global green economy, for good,” Wits Vice Chancellor and Principal Professor Zeblon Vilakazi said.

He underscored the importance of investing in applied sciences.

“Our goal is to ensure that, as the hydrogen economy grows, South Africa is equipped with a home-grown workforce and a competitive network of local suppliers. Wits-SAHLI is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to the decarbonisation of South Africa and the empowerment of a local ecosystem. It also represents a key milestone in fulfilling our public interest commitments following the 2021 acquisition of Sasol’s Air Separation Units,” Air Liquide South Africa CEO Nkululeko Magadla highlighted.

“Wits-SAHLI is a model public-private partnership that will build a competitive local supply chain for the low-carbon hydrogen sector from the ground up. By focusing on empowering South African companies, we are ensuring that the benefits of the energy transition are shared broadly, fostering inclusive growth and industrial capacity,” LSF CEO Irshaad Kathrada averred.