OUR ENERGY PROJECTS IN NAMIBIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

The renewable energy and power sector faces many challenges that hinder the transition to sustainable energy solutions. GFA Consulting Group tackles the key issues head-on and develops and implements energy projects worldwide along the energy value chain, from sustainable production to consumption. Energy efficiency also plays an important role in reducing non-productive energy consumption. On this page you will find a short list of highlighted projects that GFA has recently implemented in South Africa and Namibia.

© Ben McRae | istockphoto SCOPING STUDY ON BIOMASS-TO-LIQUID AND POTENTIAL SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL (SAF) PRODUCTION

Country: Namibia
Client: GIZ
Duration: March - August 2023

Namibia is facing the challenge that its open semi-arid savannah rangelands are gradually turning into densely bush-covered land, affecting biodiversity, water availability and grazing capacity. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through GIZ, is implementing the Bush Control and Biomass Utilization Project in partnership with the Namibian Ministry of Environment. The project aims to manage bush encroachment by promoting sustainable bush thinning and biomass utilization. This initiative has created jobs and profitable value chains, but there's a need for diversified sources of income beyond product sales. In the context of Power-to-X (PtX), woody biomass can serve as an energy carrier or carbon source, especially biogenic waste. Namibia has a unique resource - woody vegetation from landscape restoration efforts - that distinguishes it from other PtX partner countries and complements its solar and wind potential. This woody biomass covers approximately 45 million hectares and has been increasing over the last few decades.

The objective of this study (PDF) was to assess the potential of using local residual biomass from bush encroachment for the production of PtL-SAF and other high potential PtX products.

© nattrass | istockphoto H2/PTX-MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOUTH AFRICA

Country: South Africa
Client: GIZ
Duration: Nov 202 - Feb 2025

The project "Promoting the Development of a Hydrogen Economy for South Africa (H2.SA)" is part of the Development Cooperation (DC) Program "Energy and Climate (Green Economy) in South Africa". The program aims to support the partner government in achieving its climate goals and to contribute to a more environmentally sustainable, less coal-based and climate-friendly economy.

The activities included in the tender "H2 PtX Market Opportunities for South Africa: Analysis of Lighthouse Projects and Environmental-Social Impact Assessment" will focus on facilitating the realization of renewable H2 PtX projects in South Africa by improving the conditions for companies to participate in a South African H2 economy (Output Indicator 2) and by improving the knowledge of relevant stakeholders about the potential environmental and social impacts of a hydrogen economy.

The fulfillment of these two main objectives can pave the way for the development of the South African H2 PtX market for the production of renewable H2 and its derivatives in a sustainable manner, as well as for their future export to international markets, thus bringing sustainable benefits to the South African society and economy. Services provided by GFA:

  • SITE MAPPING of suitable sites for H2/PtX production with a focus on export opportunities
  • Pre-feasibility studies for selected H2/PtX lighthouse projects
  • Environmental and Social Impacts of Green Hydrogen Projects in South Africa
  • Handbook "How to do an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for H2/ PtX projects in South Africa

© JONGHO SHIN | istockphoto IMPROVING SOUTH AFRICA´S REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR GREEN HYDROGEN AND PTX: ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Country: South Africa
Client: GIZ
Duration: Oct 2021 - Oct 2023

In the context of a rapidly diminishing global carbon budget and the urgency to find adequate solutions to decarbonize the so-called heavy-to-abate sectors, the demand for green hydrogen (H2) and green hydrogen-based products (power-to-x (PtX)), such as ammonia and synthetic jet fuels, is steadily increasing. As part of the German National Hydrogen Strategy, South African-German cooperation has agreed to launch several initiatives in the field of green hydrogen and power-to-x in South Africa. The 'H2.SA' project (funded by BMWi/BMZ) has been initiated within the framework of the National Hydrogen Strategy and focuses on supporting South African stakeholders from the public and private sectors as well as civil society in establishing favorable regulatory, institutional and technical frameworks for a green and sustainable hydrogen economy. Specifically, 4 areas of intervention (outputs) were defined:

  • Strategy Development and Regulatory Framework;
  • H2 economy and private sector involvement;
  • Research, innovation and education;
  • Environment and social dimensions.

In order to improve the strategic planning basis and the regulatory framework in view of a favorable future green hydrogen / PtX policy environment, several activities focused on analyzing and improving the existing regulatory framework and policy documents in South Africa, taking into account international approaches and best practices from other countries (international benchmarking).

© audioundwerbung | istockphoto RENEWABLE H2 MARKET POTENTIAL AND VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS

Country: South Africa
Client: GIZ
Duration: Nov 2022 - Nov 2023

The program "Promoting the Development of a Green Hydrogen Economy for South Africa (H2.SA)" is part of the Development Cooperation (DC) program "Energy and Climate (Green Economy) in South Africa". The program aims to support the partner government in achieving its climate goals and to contribute to a more environmentally sustainable, less coal-based and climate-friendly economy.

The activities included in the project "South Africa: Renewable H2 Market Potential and Value Chain Analysis" will focus on improving the conditions for companies to participate in a South African green hydrogen economy, generating and improving information on the renewable H2 market potential for South Africa, and assessing the most feasible applications in different time horizons. The H2/PtX value chain will be analyzed in detail to identify its strengths and weaknesses according to the requirements of the emerging H2 market. Based on this analysis, opportunities and recommendations for companies and local research institutions will be developed to close the identified gaps along the value chain.

In addition, the activities of this call aim at strengthening the technical capabilities of selected actors from politics, business, research and civil society in the field of (renewable) hydrogen.

The fulfillment of these two main objectives may pave the way for South African companies to participate in a South African (green) hydrogen economy and for improved technical capabilities.

© Lea Toews | istockphoto SUPPORT IN THE AREAS OF OPERATIONAL PLANNING FOR THE PROJECT H2.SA

Country: South Africa
Client: GIZ
Duration: Nov 2021 - Dez 2025

The technical component "Promoting the development of a hydrogen economy for South Africa (H2.SA) under the National Hydrogen Strategy has been initiated focusing on supporting South African stakeholders from the public and private sector as well as civil society in setting-up favourable regulatory, institutional and technical framework conditions for a green hydrogen economy. In detail, four areas of intervention have been defined:

  • Strategy Development and Regulatory Framework
  • H2 Economy and Private Sector Involvement
  • Research, Innovation and Training
  • Environment and Social Affairs

The objective of this assignment is the support of the operational planning process for the new project “Promotion of Hydrogen in South Africa (H2.SA)” throughout the entire project duration.

© AS photo | istockphoto IMPACT ANALYSIS OF A GREEN HYDROGEN AND POWER-TO-X ECONOMY ON ENERGY SECURITY

Country: South Africa
Client: GIZ
Duration: May 2024 - March 2025

The objective of this study is to analyze the net impact of green hydrogen production on South Africa's energy security. The study will benefit from the expertise and understanding of the Environmental Economic Social and Governance (EESG) framework for GH2/PtX sustainability. For example, the RE additionality criterion for sustainable GH2/PtX production, which requires that all renewable energy sources for GH2 production must be outside of (or beyond) what is already existing/planned to meet South African domestic consumer demand. The study will examine and analyze possible scenarios in which GH2 production would impact energy security (either positively or negatively). For example, the potential impact on access and affordability of off-grid RE options of the associated increase in renewable energy technologies in the market, resulting in a potential reduction in the associated costs of renewable energy components (such as PV panels). This would be considered a spillover (indirect) outcome of the GH2 sector on energy security. This study has the following five specific objectives:

  • to review the energy security challenges facing South Africa as relevant to this study,
  • to examine the potential impacts (positive and negative) that the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives can have on energy security - both directly and indirectly (spin-off impacts),
  • assess the net impact of a green hydrogen economy on energy security and identify the enabling conditions to support a net positive outcome,
  • to develop a GH2 energy security analysis report that makes sense for South Africa, and
  • provide recommendations to policy makers, investors and project developers of this emerging GH2/PtX economy to support energy security through green hydrogen/PtX projects.

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