Electricity and Control February 2023

ENGINEERING THE FUTURE

SU to become a leading research partner in green hydrogen

S tellenbosch University (SU) is set to become a leading research partner in initiatives to advance the use of green hydrogen as an energy source. Towards the end of 2022, the university signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Teesside University in England – this was during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state visit to the United Kingdom – and SU has allocated an initial R12 million towards establishing research expertise in the field. The MoU sets out the research activities that will help South Africa with technology localisation and industrialisation using the hydrogen economy. Professor Sampson Mampwheli, Director of the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES) at SU, says, “The main focus is the production of green hydrogen, which is produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy resources such as solar and wind energy. “The research activities will include, among other aspects, hydrogen production technologies, hydrogen conversion technologies such as fuel cells and gas turbines, and techno economic analysis of hydrogen projects such as the production of hydrogen for the export market. Focus will also be given to activities around South Africa’s Hydrogen Valley, as proposed in the Hydrogen Society Roadmap approved by cabinet in 2022.” Mamphweli represented Professor Sibusiso Moyo, SU Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, at the event, which was also attended by Dr Blade Nzimande, the South African Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, and other dignitaries of the South African Department of Science and Innovation. Professor Steve Cummings, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), represented Teesside University at the signing at the House of Lords. Both the British and South African governments will make resources available for the operationalisation of the MoU, with a view to hydrogen technology localisation in line with the provision of South Africa’s Hydrogen Society Roadmap. During President Ramaphosa’s state visit to the UK, the British government pledged initial financial support in the form of grant funding, which will assist South Africa in operationalising its hydrogen development plans. The ceremonial signing of the MoU was one of many ceremonies and agreements reached between South Africa and Britain during the state visit. Professor Moyo added that she is pleased to work in collaboration with Teesside University and the university’s regional and national partners on finding sustainable solutions to the energy crisis. “Through its Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, Stellenbosch University has established an impressive history of research on renewable energy. Research on green hydrogen will complement existing research on solar and wind energy – among other related research fields.” The two institutions will also collaborate with other institutions working in the hydrogen field in their respective

countries. Teesside University intends collaborating with Durham University and other institutions, and SU intends collaborating with institutions such as the Durban University of Technology, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, North West University and the Universities of Cape Town, Venda and the Western Cape, as well as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Professor Craig McGregor, Associate Professor in SU’s Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, says the development of green hydrogen technology has a high level of support within the university. “More than R12 million has been allocated to the Faculty of Engineering over the next three years to establish world class research in the field. The funding will cover the appointment of a part-time director, programme manager and three to four postdoctoral fellows, and a contribution to fund student and staff research projects. The research will be focused in three areas: firstly, new technology development, such as photocatalytic hydrogen production and hydrogen storage; secondly, technology intelligence and systems engineering that will study how best to apply the available hydrogen technologies within the southern African and global context; and finally, technology demonstration and deployment of technologies that have passed the technology intelligence stage. The university will continue to explore and develop further sources of investment for the research. The signing of the MoU was attended by Prof Sampson Mampwheli of SU (seated second from right), SA Minister of Higher Education Dr Blade Nzimande (seated right) and other SA and UK dignitaries.

For more information visit: www.sun.ac.za

FEBRUARY 2023 Electricity + Control

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