H2Atlas-Africa project is the first-phase of a Go Green Go Africa Hydrogen initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and African partners in the Sub-Saharan region to explore the potentials of green hydrogen production from the enormous renewable energy sources.
The H2Atlas Africa project aims to support sustainable development in Africa through a viable hydrogen economy. It has a high potential to make Africa an exporter of green hydrogen, hence gaining more relevance in the international energy markets and contribute to the fight against climate change in both Sub-Saharan Africa and globally.
The project will be coordinated by the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) in the Southern African Region. The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) is the main partner in SADC. SACREEE has the mandate to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and energy services through resource mobilisation; policy harmonisation; quality assurance; knowledge management and capacity building and communication in the SADC Region.
SASSCAL and SACREEE Team Members
Inline with this, SASSCAL is holding virtual National Team Engagement meetings with all participating SADC member countries to kick start the project.
| No. | Country | Date |
| 1. | Angola | 07/09/2020 |
| 2. | Zambia | 08/09/2020 |
| 3. | Zimbabwe | 09/09/2020 |
| 4. | Mozambique | 10/09/2020 |
| 5. | South Africa | 14/09/2020 |
| 6. | Botswana | 14/09/2020 |
| 7. | Tanzania | 15/09/2020 |
| 8. | Namibia | 18/09/2020 |
| 9. | Malawi | TBC |
| 10. | Mauritius | TBC |
| 11. | Eswatini | TBC |
| 12 | Madagascar | TBC |
H2Atlas- Africa National Team Engagement meetings
The main objective of the meetings is to provide an overview of the H2Atlas in focused groups and discuss the modalities for National Data that will be collected for the production of the Atlas. The meetings were attended by SASSCAL, SACREEE and the respective identified national team members from the 12 participating countries. In her opening remarks, Dr Jane M. Olwoch, SASSCAL’s Executive Director highlighted that “Green Hydrogen project isn’t a project like others, it is a programme as we seek emission-free and sustained future as we transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy”.
During the National Team Engagement meetings, Dr Olwoch made her presentation on the project overview of H2Atlas-Africa. Dr Olwoch further highlighted the overall structure of the project, capacity development component, key facts and considerations and the role of national and regional teams.
Similarly, Mr Kudakwashe Ndhlukula, Executive Director of SACREEE gave a detailed presentation on the required input data for the green hydrogen Atlas. He further emphasised the importance of verifiable input data that reflects the real situation specific to each country in the region.
In her closing remarks, Dr Olwoch thanked SACREEE and each country’s national team members for their readiness and expertise. Dr Olwoch further advised the national teams on the way forward and the importance of all stakeholders for the success of the project.
