South Africa inaugurated a 100 million rand (US$5.3 million) green hydrogen pilot facility at the University of the Witwatersrand on Wednesday, marking a significant step in the country’s drive to develop a domestic hydrogen economy.
The Wits–South Africa Hydrogen Localisation Initiative (Wits-SAHLI) was officially opened in a ceremony attended by Vice President Paul Mashatile. The pilot site is supported by Air Liquide and the Localisation Support Fund, a South African government mechanism to boost domestic industrial capacity.
Equipped with a 110-kilowatt electrolyser, the facility produces hydrogen from water and electricity. It also features a storage system capable of holding 200 kilograms of hydrogen and a reconversion system that can generate up to 200 kilowatts of power, providing both operational testing and supply to certain university infrastructure.
The initiative is designed to test industrial hydrogen applications under real-world conditions while training students, technicians, and professionals in the emerging technology. “Our objective is to ensure that, as the hydrogen economy develops, South Africa builds a locally trained workforce and a competitive network of domestic suppliers,” said Nkululeko Magadla, Chief Executive Officer of Air Liquide Southern Africa.
National targets and economic impact
The pilot project aligns with the South African government’s hydrogen roadmap, which targets up to 500,000 tonnes of green hydrogen production per year by 2030. The roadmap, formalized in 2021 by the Department of Science and Innovation, anticipates that scaling up production will support domestic industrial demand and lay the groundwork for export opportunities.
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The strategy also projects the creation of 20,000 direct and indirect jobs across the hydrogen value chain, encompassing production, storage, equipment manufacturing, and industrial applications. Authorities have said that pilot projects like Wits-SAHLI will provide a foundation for gradual industrial deployment, while mobilizing several billion rand in investment over the decade.
Green hydrogen has been integrated into South Africa’s User-Friendly IRP 2025 energy plan, highlighting its role in electricity storage and decarbonizing carbon-intensive industries such as steel, chemicals, and mining. Policymakers see the technology as a critical component of the country’s energy transition and climate strategy.
Vice President Mashatile noted that the project strengthens local capabilities and supports national objectives to develop a hydrogen economy, emphasizing both innovation and industrial localisation.
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South Africa has taken advantage of abundant renewable energy resources to position itself as a potential hub for green hydrogen in Africa. The Wits pilot facility represents one of the country’s first dedicated infrastructures for hydrogen research and industrial testing, creating an early platform for training and technological development.
As global interest in hydrogen grows, initiatives like Wits-SAHLI are seen as key to unlocking both domestic and international opportunities, offering South Africa a chance to compete in a fast-emerging global market while supporting sustainable energy goals and job creation.
The pilot project, with its combined production, storage, and reconversion capabilities, is expected to inform future commercial deployments and help South Africa gradually scale up toward the ambitious 2030 targets outlined in its national hydrogen roadmap.
