CSIR, NWU to establish SA's first hydrogen research centre
Thématique :
sud afrique
By Engineering News, 29/11/2007
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) said on Thursday that it would jointly establish a Hydrogen Centre of Competence (CoC) with the North-West University.
The centre would focus on hydrogen production, storage, delivery and distribution.
The CSIR said that hydrogen and fuel cell technologies had been identified by the Department of Science and Technology as a “frontier science and technology” initiative that could, potentially, expand the base for the creation of wealth and position the country to compete within the dynamic knowledge economy.
This initiative would foster proactive innovation and knowledge generation in the beneficiation of key natural resources, resulting in new downstream industries, the organisation stated.
Globally, hydrogen and fuel cells are seen as energy solutions for the twenty-first century, enabling clean and efficient production of power and heat from a range of primary energy sources. The transition to a hydrogen economy was expected to greatly reduce dependency on oil and gas, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
South Africa was in a good position to participate in the emerging hydrogen economy, as it held a dominating position in platinum reserves with more than 75% of the world's known reserves. Platinum is the key catalytic material used in hydrogen fuel cells.
The country also had a leading position in high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors, such as the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor.
“This technology is key in the production of industrial-scale process heat that could be used in thermal electrolysis to generate hydrogen for use in fuel cells,” the CSIR said, adding that South Africa was also regarded as a leader in the technology to produce liquid fuels from coal through gasification.
The Hydrogen CoC would function in a hub-and-spoke collaborative mode, which was a mechanism to bring together all interested stakeholders to deliver on a long-term vision.
The CoC, in its network form, would create a coherent and dynamic action plan to achieve that vision. It would steer the implementation of an action plan to deliver on agreed programmes and would generate sustainable competitiveness and world leadership for the country by stimulating increased and more effective investment in research and development, accelerated innovation and through eliminating barriers, contribute to the deployment and growth of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
The CoC also has the benefits of providing an opportunity to develop a knowledge base that can contribute at the forefront of an emerging industry, creating socio-economic opportunities for the nation.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) said on Thursday that it would jointly establish a Hydrogen Centre of Competence (CoC) with the North-West University.
The centre would focus on hydrogen production, storage, delivery and distribution.
The CSIR said that hydrogen and fuel cell technologies had been identified by the Department of Science and Technology as a “frontier science and technology” initiative that could, potentially, expand the base for the creation of wealth and position the country to compete within the dynamic knowledge economy.
This initiative would foster proactive innovation and knowledge generation in the beneficiation of key natural resources, resulting in new downstream industries, the organisation stated.
Globally, hydrogen and fuel cells are seen as energy solutions for the twenty-first century, enabling clean and efficient production of power and heat from a range of primary energy sources. The transition to a hydrogen economy was expected to greatly reduce dependency on oil and gas, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
South Africa was in a good position to participate in the emerging hydrogen economy, as it held a dominating position in platinum reserves with more than 75% of the world's known reserves. Platinum is the key catalytic material used in hydrogen fuel cells.
The country also had a leading position in high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors, such as the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor.
“This technology is key in the production of industrial-scale process heat that could be used in thermal electrolysis to generate hydrogen for use in fuel cells,” the CSIR said, adding that South Africa was also regarded as a leader in the technology to produce liquid fuels from coal through gasification.
The Hydrogen CoC would function in a hub-and-spoke collaborative mode, which was a mechanism to bring together all interested stakeholders to deliver on a long-term vision.
The CoC, in its network form, would create a coherent and dynamic action plan to achieve that vision. It would steer the implementation of an action plan to deliver on agreed programmes and would generate sustainable competitiveness and world leadership for the country by stimulating increased and more effective investment in research and development, accelerated innovation and through eliminating barriers, contribute to the deployment and growth of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
The CoC also has the benefits of providing an opportunity to develop a knowledge base that can contribute at the forefront of an emerging industry, creating socio-economic opportunities for the nation.
