Hydrogen Society Roadmap to be discussed with COP26 President Alok Sharma
The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has welcomed the opportunity for the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) to present South Africa's Hydrogen Society Roadmap (HSRM) to the President of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), Mr Alok Sharma.
Mr Sharma was appointed full-time President of COP26 last year. His visit to South Africa is part of a worldwide tour.
South Africa's Hydrogen Society Roadmap (HSRM), launched by Minister Nzimande earlier this year, is a national coordinating framework to facilitate the integration of hydrogen-related technologies in various sectors of the South African economy, stimulating economic recovery in line with the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.
South Africa has joined the global race to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change by moving towards low-carbon energy technologies, which are finding favour across a range of applications, and the development of a green hydrogen economy.
"As a signatory to the Paris agreement on climate change, South Africa is part of the growing drive towards clean energy solutions for electrical energy and transportation systems. Apart from reducing carbon emissions, other key priorities are the provision of power to remote rural communities and using the country's rich natural resources for economic development," said the Minister.
The DSI will also brief Mr Sharma on the outcomes of a study on using the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college system for a just transition to clean energy. The study was funding by the United Kingdom Partnership on the Acceleration of the Climate Transition (UK-PACT).
"The study focused on how targeted skills training through the technical vocational education and training college system in South Africa could be aligned with future job opportunities in the renewable energy sector, more specifically the green hydrogen economy, to improve job absorption rates," said the Minister.
During the DSI presentation, the Department will showcase some of the products and processes that have been developed under Hydrogen Society Roadmap initiatives.
For more information contact Taslima Viljoen at 082 990 1685.
Media enquiries: Ishmael Mnisi 0660378859
