Strategic and Economic Evaluation of Common-User Infrastructure Configurations for Power-to-X in South Africa and Namibia – A Cross-Border and Stakeholder-Based System Perspective

This master’s thesis presents a strategic and economic evaluation of common-user infrastructure (CUI) configurations for Power-to-X (PtX) deployment in the Western Corridor of South Africa and Namibia, focusing on green hydrogen (Green H₂). The thesis addresses the spatial mismatch between world-class renewable energy (RE) resources, distant demand centres and significant grid constraints, necessitating additional long-distance and high-capacity energy transmission infrastructure. Through a cross-border and stakeholder-based system perspective, the research explores three infrastructure scenarios: (1) Co-located RE and Green H₂/PtX production at coastal port sites, (2) Cross-border electricity transmission line linking remote RE generation zones with coastal port sites and (3) Cross-border hydrogen pipeline connecting inland co-located RE and Green H₂ sites to coastal port sites. The applied mixed-methods approach combines qualitative insights from region-specific stakeholder interviews with a high-level techno-economic cost assessment using a Levelised Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) model. The thesis applies a SWOT framework to evaluate each scenario’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Scenario 1 offers low capital expenditure and rapid deployment but limited scalability and regional integration. Scenario 2 supports infrastructure serving multiple purposes and energy system resilience but faces high investment. Scenario 3 is cost-effective for large-scale hydrogen transport and storage but entails high upfront costs, socioeconomic and environmental risks as well as market dependency. Findings indicate that hydrogen pipelines are more cost-effective for bulk transmission while electricity transmission lines are preferred for their broader socio-economic and system integration benefits. Stakeholders from public and private sectors advocate a phased, hybrid approach, beginning with co-located projects around the port sites and evolving toward integrated cross-border infrastructure. The thesis concludes that coordinated planning, political alignment and commonuser infrastructure are critical to unlocking the PtX potential in the region and enabling a just, systemintegrated energy transition in Southern Africa.