Hydrogen Europe has become the first association member of the African Hydrogen Partnership (AHP). The AHP is the only continent-wide association dedicated to the development of green and naturally occurring hydrogen and fuel cell technology in Africa.

Hydrogen Europe will join the AHP’s Board of Directors to support the development of an African green hydrogen industry and an efficient H₂ global supply chain.
The EU wants to cut greenhouse emissions by at least 55% by 2030, and the European Commission’s recent REPowerEU plan aims to boost H₂ production and imports to 20 MMtpy by 2030. This would include 5 MMt more renewable H₂ produced in Europe in addition to the 5 MMt already planned, and around 10 MMt of imported renewable H₂ from diverse sources, with Africa and the Mediterranean region contributing significantly. Their abundance of sun, wind and land resources will produce renewable H₂, helping to break Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels from Russia.

This strategic partnership will serve both domestic and export markets, as outlined by the 2×40 GW Green Hydrogen Initiative. The realization of renewable H₂ economies will create jobs, economic growth and welfare for Africa, Europe and other neighboring areas. At the same time, it will contribute to a cleaner, decarbonized Europe, Africa and world.
AHP Chairman, Dr Innocent Uwuijaren said: “Renewable African hydrogen is essential to the world and Europe meeting its net-zero targets. With the war in Ukraine demonstrating the urgency of Europe’s energy transition and Africa gearing up for COP27 in Egypt, there is no better time to welcome Hydrogen Europe as a board member of the AHP. As Africa ramps up its sustainable energy supply and many of its countries leapfrog to the new age of H₂ technologies, the AHP is confident that clean, sustainable and renewable African H₂ will price diesel and petrol out of the market between 2025 and 2030.”

CEO of Hydrogen Europe, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis stated: “Our collaboration will open new business opportunities for both AHP and Hydrogen Europe’s members and help us build together enabling, aligned and ambitious global frameworks for decarbonization. We will leverage the recent European investments and leadership in clean H₂ technologies and Africa’s renewable powerhouse, its agility, and disruptive market orientation, to develop a mutually beneficial energy partnership.”

Developing hydrogen economies in Africa will reduce the economic burden of importing costly refined fossil fuels and create employment and wealth domestically. For Europe, decarbonizing existing H₂ demand, amounting to almost 1.9% of total European emissions, together with its decarbonization potential in emerging applications in industry, mobility, and storage is instrumental to meet European climate objectives. The development of hydrogen economies will further enhance European industrial and economic competitiveness as European companies are already leaders in H₂ and fuel cell technologies – 42% of current electrolyzer manufacturing capacity is European. While Europe will not be able to produce all its renewable energy locally, Africa offers great potential to produce price competitive renewable H₂ both for domestic and export markets.