South African energy and chemicals company Sasol has commissioned China’s Envision Energy to undertake a design study for a green hydrogen system at its Sasolburg operations, as it evaluates options to produce lower-carbon fuels and chemicals.
The collaboration was announced during South African Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s visit to Envision’s Chifeng Hydrogen Net Zero Industrial Park in Inner Mongolia on the sidelines of the South Africa-China Energy Investment Conference, Sasol reported.
The study will examine how renewable power generation, battery energy storage systems and electrolyser technologies can be integrated to produce green hydrogen at the Sasolburg site.
Subject to the outcome of the study and future investment approvals, the green hydrogen could be used to produce e-methanol and potentially electro-sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF), the companies said.
Sasol said the project forms part of its strategy to assess technologies that could support its energy transition while leveraging its existing industrial infrastructure and expertise.
“The design study with Envision is an important step in assessing how integrated renewables, energy storage and electrolyser technologies could support cost-competitive green hydrogen production at Sasolburg,” said Danie Cronje, Senior Vice President: Business Building at Sasol.
Envision Energy said its solution combines renewable energy, battery storage and electrolysers with artificial intelligence-based energy management systems to optimise hydrogen production based on electricity availability and pricing.
“Green hydrogen will play a critical role in decarbonising hard-to-abate industries and creating new pathways for sustainable growth,” said Kane Xu, Senior Vice President and President of International Product Line at Envision Energy.
The design study is expected to be completed later this year and will provide the technical and commercial assessment needed for Sasol to decide on the project’s next phase.
The partnership also reflects ongoing cooperation between South Africa and China on clean energy technologies and efforts to develop lower-carbon industrial solutions, including sustainable aviation fuel and green hydrogen.
