By: Creamer media

The partners aim to advance research, innovation and sustainable practices in South Africa’s hydrogen energy sector, particularly green hydrogen, which is generated from renewable energy and produces zero carbon emissions.

The centre positions VUT as a global leader in hydrogen energy research, while it advances Standard Bank’s commitment to driving Africa’s green transition and contributing to a just energy future.

Standard Bank South Africa business and commercial banking head Simone Cooper says hydrogen energy is an exciting frontier in South Africa’s journey to a sustainable future. “By investing in the centre, Standard Bank is helping to unlock the potential of research, academia and finance working together to solve pressing energy challenges.”

She adds that the bank not only aims to back innovation but also to ensure solutions are inclusive, scalable and capable of driving economic growth in the country and for the continent.

For VUT Vice-Chancellor Khehla Ndlovu, the partnership combines academic expertise and leadership in sustainable finance, which helps position South Africa at the forefront of hydrogen energy innovation. He says the initiative will contribute to global research, as well as open new pathways for collaboration, investment and economic development.

Ndlovu says the centre has already attracted international interest from partners in Europe, Asia and Latin America, which highlights its potential to drive meaningful impact regionally and globally.

With the support of Standard Bank, VUT is the only African member of a 13-partner European consortium exploring hydrogen innovation, which places South Africa firmly on the map of global clean energy research, he explains.

VUT Faculty of Engineering and Technology acting deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning Professor Khaled Abou-El-Hossein comments that the industry’s role as a driver of climate action is strengthened through industry recognition, particularly in the Vaal region, which is heavily impacted by industrial emissions.

He tells Engineering News the Centre of Excellence is designed as a community-embedded platform that will host applied research, pilot projects and skills training focused on green hydrogen and renewable energy.

Equipment at the centre includes small-scale electrolysers, hydrogen storage and fuel cell demonstrators to support practical projects – including community facilities, small businesses and agricultural applications.

Abou-El-Hossein says the centre will have dedicated researchers supported by postgraduate students and technical staff. The centre is starting out with a core team of five researchers, with plans to expand as projects grow and more partnerships are secured.

“The model is to combine academic expertise with community-driven projects so that research outcomes translate into real solutions through projects that can benefit the community,” he says.

The centre’s immediate priorities are to establish pilot projects that demonstrate practical uses of green hydrogen; build research capacity with dedicated staff and students; and strengthen partnerships with industry and communities.

Abou-El-Hossein foresees that the centre will deliver visible impact, including empowered communities, supported small businesses and skilled individuals, in the Vaal Triangle, in the near future.

For him, VUT is ideal for hydrogen research owing to its strong focus on applied engineering, industry partnerships and deep community engagement, which ensures innovation benefits both industry and society.

For Standard Bank, hydrogen stands at the forefront of South Africa’s energy transition, as it offers an abundant, clean and versatile way of generating energy.

Cooper says the promise of hydrogen is not just environmental, but also economic and social; it can build new industries, create jobs and develop skills for the future. 

Standard Bank holds more than 30% of the market share in energy project funding in South Africa. In the past year alone, the bank disbursed R2.4-billion in green financing to homes, mobilised R2.2-billion for climate-smart agriculture and provided R2.9-billion worth of funding to 1 500 businesses and commercial clients for renewable-energy solutions.

Notably, Standard Bank has mobilised R33.6-billion in sustainable finance for infrastructure, including R19.8-billion for new renewable energy power plants, which resulted in an estimated cumulative installed renewable energy capacity of 1 703 MW.

As the bank launches the Centre of Excellence for Hydrogen Energy, it stands ready to continue supporting green projects, and financing innovation and partnerships with stakeholders to realise the promise of a sustainable energy future, Cooper states.

Her goals for the centre are to advance fuel cell design, develop smart materials for hydrogen storage and help to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as transport, steel and power generation.

Regionally, the centre will increase the pool of skilled professionals in green technologies and boost the competitiveness of local industries.

At a national level, Cooper says, the centre positions South Africa as a serious player in the global hydrogen economy, contributing to research, manufacturing and technology development at its highest level.

“For the private sector, it means access to cutting-edge research and a pipeline of talent. For students, it means opportunities to work on real-word and impactful projects,” she concludes.