Sasol, the South African synfuels giant, expects to commence consistent production of green hydrogen in early 2024, once the 69 Megawatt Msenge Emoyeni Wind Farm, in the Eastern Cape, begins supply of renewable energy to Sasol’s Sasolburg site via a wheeling arrangement.
The company says it has proven the concept, when it produced its first green hydrogen, under a pilot phase, using a 3MW solar photovoltaic facility in its factory in Sasolburg, in the country’s Free State province, in June 2023.
It had used the pilot project to repurpose an operational electrolyser to use renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The green hydrogen produced in Sasolburg will be used in mobility applications.
“There is a demand for green hydrogen to decarbonise the mining industry, and in other mobility applications,” declares Sasol CEO Fleetwood Grobler.
“Once operational, the (69MW) Msenge wind farm together with the Sasolburg solar farm will provide sufficient renewable power to commercialise green hydrogen in South Africa”, Grobler assures.
“This is a huge step forward in the energy transition, not just for Sasol but also for South Africa,” Grobler explains.
