Green hydrogen production plays a central role in the emerging Power-to-X (PtX) economy

Green Hydrogen and the PtX Revolution

Green hydrogen is a clean fuel source produced using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen atoms through an electrolysis process. Green hydrogen can be stored, transported, or converted into other energy carriers, making it a key enabler of decarbonization. In South Africa, green hydrogen production plays a central role in the emerging Power-to-X (PtX) economy, enabling the conversion of renewable energy into exportable fuels and chemicals such as ammonia, methanol, and sustainable aviation and maritime fuels. South Africa is actively leveraging its abundant solar and wind resources to become a global green hydrogen hub.

PtX projects are large-scale initiatives that require the integration of multiple industries across vast geographical and technical landscapes. These projects demand multidisciplinary teams with expertise in sectors including chemical processing, marine infrastructure development, renewable energy, and transmission and distribution systems. As a result, PtX projects can be complex in terms of addressing environmental and social risks and navigating legislative and permitting requirements.

 In February 2025, Amy Lindsay, one of our Principal Environmental Consultants, was invited to participate in a series of roadshows and online webinars aimed at communicating how South Africa is unlocking resources to drive the PtX revolution, with a particular focus on green hydrogen and green ammonia production. Amy is the Environmental Assessment Practitioner leading the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a proposed green hydrogen production facility located in the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ) in the Eastern Cape.

 Amy was invited by the CSIR, one of the lead agencies responsible for developing the Green Hydrogen Atlas and EIA Guidelines (funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – GIZ), to participate in the roadshows and webinars as one of the key experts in de-risking environmental and social impacts associated with green hydrogen project development in South Africa. She shared her experiences through panel discussions and highlighted some of the challenges and opportunities encountered while undertaking the EIA required to advance the ELIDZ green hydrogen project.

 Amy’s involvement in the roadshows and webinars was instrumental in placing CES on the radar of PtX developers, investors, and regulators. CES has extensive experience in assisting clients to de-risk environmental and social impacts associated with large-scale infrastructure and energy generation projects, positioning the firm to make a meaningful contribution to the PtX revolution unfolding in South Africa and across the continent.