Envision Energy, Sasol collaborate on green-hydrogen production in South Africa

Photo: Envision Energy

Envision Energy announced Aug. 5 a collaboration with Sasol to advance the design study of a potential green-hydrogen system at Sasol’s Sasolburg operations in South Africa.

The collaboration marks an important step in exploring how future energy systems can integrate renewable power, energy storage and electrolyzer technologies to unlock new pathways to support the development of lower-carbon fuels and chemicals, including potential applications in eMethanol and electro sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF).

The collaboration was highlighted during a visit by South Africa’s minister of electricity and energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, to Envision’s Chifeng Hydrogen Net Zero Industrial Park in Inner Mongolia, as part of the South Africa-China Energy Investment Conference.

Leveraging Envision’s expertise in renewable energy, battery energy-storage systems, green hydrogen and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled energy management, the design study will evaluate how renewable power generation, energy storage and electrolyzer systems can be integrated to optimize green-hydrogen production based on energy availability, market conditions and operational requirements.

The design study is expected to be completed later this year and will provide technical and commercial insights to support potential future investment decisions.

Sasol is evaluating opportunities to leverage its existing industrial capabilities and infrastructure while exploring technologies that can support its energy-transition pathway and future market opportunities.

“Green hydrogen will play a critical role in reshaping hard-to-abate industries and creating new pathways for sustainable growth,” said Kane Xu, an executive with Envision Energy. “Through AI-powered energy infrastructure and innovative technologies across renewables, storage and green hydrogen, Envision is working with global partners like Sasol to pioneer future energy systems that are infinite, intelligent and inexpensive, accelerating industrial transformation and creating new opportunities for industries and communities worldwide.”

Danie Cronje, a senior vice president with Sasol, added, “The design study with Envision is an important step in assessing how integrated renewables, energy storage and electrolyzer technologies could support cost-competitive green-hydrogen production at Sasolburg. By drawing on leading global expertise, we can evaluate how these technologies may contribute to future lower-carbon fuel and chemical value chains, while building on Sasol’s existing industrial capabilities.”