Green Hydrogen to Supply AFrican communities with stable electricity

SSCI-VIDE+ING+NRB International audience Access to reliable electricity remains a challenge in many rural African areas, where solar energy, despite its abundance, suffers from intermittency. GH-SAFE addresses this gap by developing a sustainable, stand-alone energy storage and conversion system using green hydrogen. This will be done by developing an innovative power-to-hydrogen-to-power (P2H2P) technology that leverages surplus solar energy to produce green H2, which is safely stored using Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC) and later converted back to electricity via a hydrogen internal combustion engine (HICE). The primary objectives are to develop a reliable electricity storage system compatible with rural, isolated African communities, ensure safe and efficient hydrogen storage through LOHC, and validate the P2H2P concept while assessing its economic, social, and environmental impact.The project follows a structured methodology, which addresses the scientific bottlenecks of the technology by focusing on 1) optimising proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers to produce green H2 under fluctuating solar energy conditions, 2) developing hydrogen storage and releasing LOHC-based system, which operates with low-cost catalysts and waste energy from the system; 3) designing a HICE that integrates waste heat for H2 release and achieves efficient electricity generation, 4) performing a techno-economic assessment of the system feasibility and establishing its potential environmental benefits (LCA), and 5) studying social acceptance and policy integration by engaging local stakeholders through workshops and feasibility studies to ensure community-driven implementation.GH-SAFE is structured into six work packages (WPs) covering technology development, feasibility analysis, and stakeholders engagement. A consortium of European and African institutions—including research centers, universities, and SMEs—will drive implementation, ensuring technological relevance and local adoption.The project will contribute to Africa's energy transition by demonstrating a scalable, green hydrogen-based electricity storage system. The expected impacts include improved energy access and reliability in rural areas, reduced dependence on fossil fuels and associated emissions, fostering local economic development through job creation and increased energy-driven productivity, enhancing gender equality by providing women-led businesses with stable energy access, and strengthening EU-Africa collaboration in renewable energy research and innovation.