MechChem Africa May-June 2022

⎪ PowerGen,PetroChem and Sustainable energy management ⎪

CHIETA confirms commitment to green hydrogen economy In this article, Yershen Pillay, CEO of the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA), outlines CHIETA’s role in promoting the use of green hydrogen, most notably through a comprehensive study focusing on skills development and economic growth.

W ith projects such as a recently completed hydrogen produc tion proof of concept (PoC) initiative in Vredendal in the estern Cape, it’s safe to say that South Africa is well on its way to producing green hydrogen as part of its renewable energy portfolio. To this end, the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) has embarked on an 18-month research project: A comprehensive study of hydrogen power in SA. “This will assist us in our efforts tosupport theHydrogenEconomy, identifying growthareas for skills andeconomic develop ment,” says Yershen Pillay, CEO of CHIETA. “The study, which is already underway, is being conducted inpartnershipwith research groups and is aimed not only at our own skills development targetsbut alsoat government’s needs and those of companies of all sizes within the chemical industries,” he adds. A comprehensive study of hydrogen power will focus on: • The collection and analysis of docu ments, baseline data and a literature review on the state of the Hydrogen Economy in South Africa. • The production of a green hydrogen research report that responds to the project’s objectives. “We believe the project’s outcomes and recommendationswill not only assist govern ment, through theDepartment of Science and COMTEST, Fluke’s Local Channel Partner, has introduced the newFluke 393FCclamp meter with iFlex, the world’s only 1 500 V CAT III, IP54-rated, thin jaw clamp meter. With itsCAT III 1500V/CAT IV600Vsafety rating, the 393 FC provides exceptional safety for work in dc environments of up to 1 500 volts, such as solar arrays, wind power farms, electric railways, and data centre battery banks for uninterruptible power supplies. The thin jaw allows this Fluke meter to be used in combiner boxes, inverters and

Innovation (DSI) and chemical sector compa nies, but also support the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP). “Furthermore, we are working on a Green Hydrogen Skills Plan for our petrochemicals sub-sector. This will allow us to identify the top-10 skills in the green hydrogen economy and close the hydrogen skills gap by ensuring that talent is locally produced,” says Pillay. “It’s also encouraging to note that one of our member companies, Sasol, is already playing a leading role in the green hydrogen economy through its research partnership withtheDSI andtheNorthernCapeEconomic Development and Investment Promotion Agency (NCEDA). CHIETA will soon be collaborating with NCEDA to ensure a well coordinated and shared response to skills planning for the green hydrogen economy,” he continues. The feasibility study for the production of green hydrogen in the Namakwa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is being conducted at Boegoebaai, a port located in the local municipality of Richtersveld. “As our biggest member company and largest skills levy con tributor, Sasol hopes to establish the port as a global centre for greenhydrogenproduction,” he adds. Through projects and initiatives such as Sasol’s Boegoebaai research, a roadmap is being crafted that will stand the chemical in dustry in good stead and position the country as a global leader in the production of green tight spaces, making it ideal for solar energy applications. The meter measures up to 1 500 V dc, 1 000 V ac, and up to 999.9 A dc or ac through the clamp jaw. The included iFlex flexible current probe extends ac cur rent measurements up to 2 500 A. When measuring ac current, the iFlex probe can be twisted through extremely small spaces giving technicians access to cables that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to clamp a probe around. “The Fluke 393 FC delivers unparal leled safety and performance in 1 500 V dc

environments, such solar energy plants,” says Susan Isaac, product manager for the Fluke 393. “It was designed specifically to address the unique challenges solar techni cians deal with every day, helping them to get their jobs done faster and more safely. “The 393 FC is the latest addition to the Fluke portfolio of test tools for the solar energy industry. Fluke tools oper ate reliably in the extreme environments — dusty, wet, cold and hot — that solar professionals work in, and are tested to survive falling that can occur in this field work,” Isaac concludes. www.comtest .co.za hydrogen energy. CHIETA will also actively be pursuing a green hydrogen research chair position in collaboration with public institu tions to advance excellence and innovation in greenhydrogen for the futuredevelopment of scarce skills. “We will be investing more than R5-million into the CHIETA Green Hydrogen Research Chair as part of our increasing investment into research and development. “As the chemical industry, we have a sig nificant role to play in what is undoubtedly the next step in the evolution of renewable energy, not only the continent, but across the globe,” concludes CHIETA’s CEO. q

Ideal for solar installations

May-June 2022 • MechChem Africa ¦ 33