ABSTRACT
South Africa has the solar, wind, and land resources to meet current and future electricity needs. The country is also almost uniquely positioned, internationally, to leverage this comparatively low-cost power to competitively produce green hydrogen, as well as carbon-neutral fuels, chemicals, and steel. These products could be exported to countries that require such inputs to meet their own net-zero commitments. If done well, this industrial development and repurposing could be accomplished, as the country decarbonizes its transport, heating, cooling, and industrial sectors and processes. Such a transformation to green hydrogen and other products derived from green hydrogen, including carbon-neutral kerosene and green ammonia, could represent South Africa’s “new gold”. This opens the door for South Africa to redefine is socioeconomic, industrial, cultural, and international profile.
