South Africa’s R105 billion Coega Green Ammonia project has reached an important milestone by advancing to the front-end engineering design (FEED) stage. This development paves the way for potential construction to commence in early 2027, with commissioning expected by December 2029. The project in Nelson Mandela Bay has received the necessary approvals for renewable energy generation, with environmental assessments now completed for Hive Hydrogen’s 3,300 MW of renewable energy assets.
The environmental authorisation for the Carissa wind energy facility, which has a capacity of 1,000 MW and is located near Beaufort West, was a significant achievement. This facility will feature 154 wind turbines that will convert seawater into hydrogen, a crucial component of the green ammonia set for export to Asia and Europe. The project is on track to begin its FEED phase in November and aims to finalise investment decisions by July 2026.
Proposals were invited in July for a plant designed to produce over one million tonnes of green ammonia annually. This includes plans for seawater abstraction, desalination, and storage facilities, along with solar and wind power infrastructure. The completion of FEED, construction of the ammonia plant, and the development of renewable energy generation are key components of the proposals.
Hive Hydrogen, backed by Hive Energy and Built Africa, has been working since September 2019 to establish a large-scale green ammonia plant powered by renewable energy. The permitting of the Carissa wind energy facility involved collaboration between Hive Hydrogen, AMDA Developments, and Blue Crane Environmental, which led the environmental impact assessment.
Coega forms part of Hive’s three green hydrogen projects, with the other two located in Spain and Chile. On a global scale, the hydrogen industry has committed over $110 billion to more than 500 projects, with total capacity exceeding six million tonnes per year. China leads the way with significant investments in renewable capacity.
In the US, Air Products recently completed the first fill of the world’s largest hydrogen sphere at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, delivering over 730,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen. This hydrogen will be used to fuel NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions. The Hydrogen Day event is set to take place on October 8, celebrating hydrogen’s potential in the energy sector.
A new green hydrogen facility in Niagara Falls is also on track to begin production this year, featuring a significant electrolyser that will double Linde’s US green liquid hydrogen capacity. Air Products’ managing director in South Africa has outlined the company’s vision for advancing the hydrogen economy in the region, focusing on creating a sustainable demand for green hydrogen.
Isondo Precious Metals, a South African green hydrogen component manufacturer, recently hosted a high-level German delegation to discuss opportunities in electrolyser and fuel cell component production. Additionally, a German steel company has signed an agreement to purchase large quantities of green hydrogen from a project in France, further illustrating the growing international interest in hydrogen.
In Germany, BMW is developing the third generation of its hydrogen drive system, with plans for a production model to launch in 2028. This collaboration with Toyota aims to leverage synergies in both passenger and commercial vehicle applications. Lastly, Infineon Technologies has transformed its semiconductor manufacturing site in Austria to operate entirely on green hydrogen, showcasing the increasing integration of sustainable energy solutions across various industries.