Africa-focused energy players sign green hydrogen agreement

H2-Industries’ LOHC technology to be deployed in Terra Sola’s integrated solar energy projects, seeking locations in Africa; several projects currently in negotiation with authorities in target markets

H₂-Industries has signed an MoU with the Swiss-based developer of integrated renewable energy projects, Terra Sola Group AG. The agreement supports Terra Sola’s development of large-scale, integrated solar energy programs for selected countries across Africa using H₂-Industries’ liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) technology.  

The agreement will convey H₂-Industries’ solutions for storage and release of electrical power for export, use as a local industrial feedstock, or for grid stabilization and off-grid power availability, according to the company’s statement last week.

“Together with Terra Sola Group AG we will focus our attention on giving selected developing countries access to much-needed clean power which will help boost their long-needed economic development,” said Michael Stusch, CEO of H₂-Industries.

“Clean energy transition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Africa, a chance to reduce poverty and lift growth potential,” he said.   

“At… our Africa hub in Algeria, we understand that African countries feature a promising combination of resources, favourable locations, and committed administrations, positioning the continent as an ideal place for generating renewable energy and for becoming the potential hub for the hydrogen-based global economy,” said David F. Heimhofer, chairman at Terra Sola Group AG.

“The availability of energy is key to Africa’s future development,” he said.

“Today’s agreement signals the next step for Terra Sola after having signed several agreements already, together with H₂-Industries, to facilitate and accelerate this development in our partner countries,” said Belkacem Haouche, General Director of Terra Sola Algerie PV Production.

Several project plans are currently in negotiation with government authorities of the target markets, according to the company’s statement. The implementation of the first project commencement is anticipated for Q1 2023.

Privately owned H₂-Industries has several planned projects in Africa and the Middle East to deploy its proprietary methods for ‘waste to hydrogen’ and LOHC production. The company, currently based in the US, was founded in Germany in 2010.

Terra Sola Group AG, through its Algeria based development arm Terra Sola PV Production Algerie, is active in more than 17 African countries with a combined project pipeline of more than 10 GW installed solar capacity.

Energy & Utilities reported last winter that Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone has given preliminary approval for H₂-Industries to develop a $3bn waste-to-hydrogen plant in Port Said.

E&U reported in April that H₂-Industries signed a MoU to develop a $1.4bn waste-to-hydrogen plant in Oman.