AEEP Energy Talks / Green Hydrogen for Industrial Transformation: Exploring Opportunities for Sustainable Industrial Value Chains and Decarbonisation
The 19th AEEP Energy Talks on 7 May 2025 will explore the potential of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives to support green industrialisation and deep decarbonisation of energy intensive industries. As the world strives towards achieving the Paris Agreement and net-zero emissions targets by 2050, new solutions are required to accelerate GHG mitigation efforts in “hard to decarbonize sectors” for instance transport (aviation, shipping) and heavy manufacturing industries (steel, chemicals) which cannot readily be electrified. Green hydrogen provides major opportunities and solutions in the form of e-fuels, energy carriers and feedstock to support green industrialisation.
The development of green hydrogen industries and markets is gathering pace at the global level. The markets for green hydrogen are projected to grow from US$6 billion in 2023 to over US$90 billion in 2033. Accelerating further growth and markets expansion will require key interventions in various areas that will boost production and applications of green hydrogen, especially at the industrial level. Technology transfer and international cooperation, increased financing and investments, capacity building and skills development, as well as innovations and adaptation of technologies to local needs will be crucial to creating sustainable green hydrogen industries and markets.
For Africa, the adoption of green hydrogen also provides opportunities to enhance access to modern energy services to achieve its goals for economic transformation, social development, increased export revenues and regional integration. The availability of natural resources, especially solar and wind energy potentials in Africa already positions the continent as a future leader in green hydrogen production. However, it will be important to develop and implement the necessary frameworks to ensure that Africa benefits from the production and trade of green hydrogen and maximizes its benefits to promote its energy, infrastructure, and industrial development agenda.
The African Union Commission developed the continental strategy and action plan on green hydrogen to accelerate its adoption and applications in Africa while also ensuring economic and social benefits are maximised along the green hydrogen value chains. Currently, six African countries (Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, and South Africa) already have national strategies and projects on green hydrogen development aiming to create local value chains that support economic opportunities, decarbonisation and producing green hydrogen for exports. A further 18 countries in Africa are also in the process of developing their national green hydrogen strategies.
In collaboration with the Green Hydrogen Business Alliance, the 19th AEEP Energy Talks on Green Hydrogen for Industrial Transformation will seek to provide valuable insights on how to maximise the benefits from green hydrogen to drive industrialisation and the decarbonisation agenda. Invited experts and panellists will also explore the challenges and provide strategic recommendations and share best practices on developing sustainable green hydrogen markets and industries and how to foster cooperation among a wide range of stakeholders in the green hydrogen value chain.
