Hydrogen Types and Sustainable Exploitation Pathways in Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a key vector for sustainable energy transitions, deep decarbonization, and enhanced energy security. This review evaluates major hydrogen types, grey, blue, and green, through a comparative assessment of production pathways, cost structures, technological maturity, and market readiness, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Grey hydrogen, while currently dominant due to established fossil-based infrastructure and low costs, is associated with high carbon emissions and climate-related risks. Blue hydrogen offers a transitional pathway via carbon capture and storage but faces constraints in SSA from high capital requirements, limited CCS infrastructure, and methane leakage. Green hydrogen, produced through renewable-powered electrolysis, represents the most sustainable long-term option, aligned with global net-zero goals and SSA’s abundant solar and wind resources, despite higher upfront costs. Synthesizing recent techno-economic, policy, and regional studies, the review highlights that prioritizing green hydrogen deployment supported by enabling policy frameworks, targeted investments, and capacity building is critical for unlocking SSA’s hydrogen potential, promoting low-carbon development, and advancing sustainable energy transitions across the region.