Participatory Mapping of Local Green Hydrogen Cost-Potentials in Sub-Saharan Africa

TL;DR

This study assesses the potential and costs of green hydrogen production in Sub-Saharan Africa, considering renewable resources, groundwater limitations, and socio-economic factors to identify viable regions and challenges.

Contribution

It provides a detailed, region-specific analysis of green hydrogen cost-potential in Sub-Saharan Africa, integrating resource, technical, and socio-economic data.

Findings

Hydrogen costs start at 1.6 EUR/kg in Mauritania.

Potential reaches ~259 TWh/a by 2050 under 2 EUR/kg.

Groundwater limitations affect two-thirds of the region, requiring desalination.

Abstract

Green hydrogen is a promising solution within carbon free energy systems with Sub-Saharan Africa being a possibly well-suited candidate for its production. However, green hydrogen in Sub-Saharan Africa is not yet investigated in detail. This work determines the green hydrogen cost-potential for green hydrogen within this region. Therefore, a potential analysis for PV, wind and hydropower, groundwater analysis, and energy systems optimization are conducted. The results are evaluated under local socio-economic factors. Results show that hydrogen costs start at 1.6 EUR/kg in Mauritania with a total potential of ~259 TWh/a under 2 EUR/kg in 2050. Two third of the regions experience groundwater limitations and need desalination at surplus costs of ~1% of hydrogen costs. Socio-economic analysis show, that green hydrogen deployment can be hindered along the Upper Guinea Coast and the African Great Lakes, driven by limited energy access, low labor costs in West Africa, and high labor potential in other regions.