Nuclear Production of Hydrogen, Fourth Information Exchange ...

SOUTH AFRICA’S NUCLEAR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Introduction
The South African government, under the leadership of the Department of Science and Technology
(DST), established a National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies R&D and Innovation Strategy in
2007 (DST, 2007). This strategy aims to establish South Africa in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry.
North-West University (NWU) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) were
selected to host a Hydrogen Infrastructure Competence Centre (CC). The Hydrogen Infrastructure CC
is tasked with developing hydrogen production, storage and distribution projects as well as relevant
codes and standards within the framework of the DST strategic objectives and will focus on the
research, development and innovation to achieve these goals.
South Africa’s hydrogen and fuel cell strategy
DST Ten-year Innovation Plan
The Department of Science and Technology published the Ten-year Innovation Plan for South Africa in
2007 (DST, 2007a). According to this plan, the grand challenge outcomes for South Africa include
energy security – the race is on for safe, clean, affordable and reliable energy supply, and South Africa
must meet its medium-term energy supply requirements while innovating for the long term in clean
coal technologies, nuclear energy, renewable energy and the promise of the “hydrogen economy”.
More specifically, the grand challenge energy-related outcomes South Africa should achieve by
2018 include:
• expansion of the energy supply infrastructure, with 80% of new capacity coming from clean
coal technologies and nuclear plants;
• an energy mix with 5% of energy used coming from renewable sources, 20% from nuclear and
70% from coal (of which 30% would be based on clean coal technologies).
• expanding the knowledge base for building nuclear reactors and coal plants parts, and source
more than 50% of all new capacity locally;
• successful integration of uranium enrichment into the fuel cycle and feeding into the
commercial reactors;
• achieving a well-articulated energy efficiency programme and per capita energy demand
reduced by 30%;
• reaching a 25% share of the global hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell market with novel
PGM catalysts;
• demonstrating, at pilot-scale, the production of hydrogen by water-splitting, using either
nuclear or solar power as the primary heat source.
National hydrogen and fuel cell technologies R&D and innovation strategy
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) identified hydrogen and fuel cell (H&FC)
technologies as one of its “Frontier Science and Technology” initiatives. In May 2007, the Cabinet
approved the National H&FC Technologies R&D and Innovation Strategy (DST, 2007).
Vision of the strategy
The vision of the strategy is to create knowledge and human resource capacity that will develop
high-value commercial activities in H&FC technologies utilising local resources and existing know-how.
Objectives of the strategy
• Wealth creation through high value-added manufacturing and developing PGM catalysis value;
a specific target is to found a domestic manufacturing base to supply 25% of the platinum
group metal catalyst demand for the global fuel cell industry by 2020.
204 NUCLEAR PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN – © OECD/NEA 2010