Commercialization of green hydrogen production from kraal manure in the Eastern Cape, South Africa: A review

Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement launched in 2011 contracts renewable energy producers to supplement the national electricity grid. No preferred bidders produce energy using hydrogen fuel cells, particularly Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), possibly due to technicalities associated with qualifying hydrogen and fuel cells as renewable. The study explores processes to be followed in South Africa to commercialise green hydrogen production for PEMFC from kraal manure. The paper employed an integrative literature review methodology. There are different stages in product commercialization such as basic research, disclosure of invention and intellectual property protection, feasibility testing, trials and demonstrations, and business development. The discussions indicate a huge amount of hydrogen that can be produced from sheep and cattle kraal manure that is in abundance in the Eastern Cape. Commercialization of hydrogen production can address global economic goals such as waste management, fighting poverty, reducing unemployment, and addressing energy challenges.