Date: 24/05/2005
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: South African Hydrogen Economy and Fuel Cells Indaba
Address by the Honourable Mr Mosibudi Mangena, Minister of Science and Technology, at the South African Hydrogen Economy and Fuel Cells Indaba, Sheraton Pretoria Hotel and Towers
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
Economists have increasingly accepted the link between global competitiveness and the important role played by research, development and innovation. Globally, nations are expending a considerable amount of public and private resources in their respective science, engineering and technology bases, towards the creation of economic value. The common goal that these major economies are striving towards is economic competitiveness, growth and prosperity.
One of the objectives of the Department of Science and Technology, as set out in the National Research and Development Strategy, which was adopted in 2002, is to achieve mastery of technological change in South Africa’s economy and society, mainly by means of innovation. Within this context, the department is tasked with identifying and developing the lead sectors that will potentially expand the base for the creation of wealth, and position the country to compete successfully within the dynamic knowledge economy. To this end, my department identified the Hydrogen Economy and related Fuel Cells technologies as a “Frontier Science and Technology” area that could potentially change the innovation course of the country’s natural resources, and yield multiple social and economic benefits.
Hydrogen and fuel cells are believed to be the energy solutions for the 21st century, by enabling clean efficient production of power and heat from a range of primary energy sources. The transition to hydrogen is expected to greatly reduce dependency on oil and gas, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, especially when used in efficient fuel cells. In the spectrum of technologies that interconnect to build up the hydrogen economy vision, platinum plays a crucial role as a catalyst that converts hydrogen to electricity. According to the International Platinum Association, no other material has been shown to be as effective as platinum in Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells. The significance of this fact raises multiple issues for South Africa and its endowment with platinum resources.
It has been brought to my attention that researchers in South Africa have already started investigating some aspects of the technologies related to the hydrogen economy. We are hoping to interlink these processes and work closely to develop a robust strategy for the Hydrogen Economy in South Africa.
South Africa generally has an extremely strong propensity for new ideas and a world-class industrial profile, both underpinned by a well-established research base in its institutions. What is lacking is the existence of an equally robust base for the transformation of research outputs into commercial products and services, and the creation of new industries. This gap, known as the innovation chasm, has been aptly articulated in the National R&D Strategy as one of the major challenges facing the National System of Innovation.
Efforts have been made towards addressing this innovation chasm. Involving industry right at the beginning of our planning process is but one way of ensuring that public R&D is linked to industry.
The global energy industry is vast, with an annual turnover of over 1,7 trillion US Dollars; energy is the biggest business in the world. The sector, however, faces tremendous global challenges, which are driving the strong global Research and Development agenda. These challenges include global politics, global energy security, dwindling resources, ever increasing demand as a result of burgeoning economies, and increasingly stringent global environmental regulations.
For emerging economies like ours, these challenges are exacerbated by poverty and the inability to afford alternative energy technologies. Statistics show that only two thirds of South Africans have access to electricity, and only about 10% of Sub-Saharan Africans have access to clean reliable energy sources.
To this challenge, the Ministry of Minerals and Energy has stated that South Africa will lean towards an integrated approach, where a total household energy solution is provided, rather than just gas or just electricity. This approach may involve several energy carriers targeted at different market segments.
It is therefore even more relevant to Africa to ensure that innovation in this sector has a direct impact on the reduction of poverty and the improvement of the quality of life of our people. With the adoption of The White Paper on the Energy Policy of 1998, Government has developed a way of integrating its broad policy frameworks. Recognising the potential role that the energy sector could play in achieving national growth and development aims, the following five key objectives are identified in the White Paper on the Energy Policy:
* Increasing access to affordable energy services;
* Improving energy governance;
* Stimulating economic development;
* Managing energy-related environmental impacts; and
* Securing supply through diversity.
These objectives reflect the need for achieving a balance between economic growth,
environmental management and security of supply issues in the energy sector.
It is for these reasons that my department and that of Minerals and Energy have worked in partnership in the establishment of the National Energy Research Institute. This is the partnership we believe provides platforms to open up discussions around new technological developments that will potentially affect the energy choices of the future.
With our ambition to increase the investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP, from the 2003/04 level of 0,81% towards the 1% intermediate term target, we need to focus our efforts on those technological challenges that will yield maximum socio-economic benefits for the country.
Government’s role in building the economy is but one half of the picture. The private sector has also realised that their sustainable future depends on investment in research and development in new technologies and in capacity development.
The toughest challenge then, and one that is most exciting, is that of nurturing the interface between government initiatives and those of the private sector, thereby affording good innovations the greatest chance of making a smooth transition from the laboratory into the market. That challenge is the reason we have invited industry leaders at the inception of this debate.
My Ministry believes in the strengthening of partnerships with local and international partners. This objective is demonstrated through my Ministry’s continuous engagement in bilateral and multilateral agreements. In technologies where we are lagging behind, we have embraced the wisdom of not trying to reinvent the wheel. That is why we have decided to learn from those who are ahead, and planned our intervention from an informed base. This is our reason for inviting so many international experts to this Indaba.
I would like to sum up by emphasising that today’s indaba is opening the possibilities of the future hydrogen economy for South Africa. We have chosen to embark on a journey of bringing issues relating to the hydrogen economy to the fore in our country. We realise that this journey will not be easy because as a country we are faced with overwhelming socio-economic challenges. Our resolve is to put Science and Technology at work to address these challenges in a sustainable manner.
Let us work hard to make this journey a success. This will not only add value to our economy, but will also benefit our people in the long term. Let us pool and focus our energies, knowledge and skills to develop a robust plan of action with realistic, manageable milestones.
May I, in closing, thank all our international guests for making the time to be with us today. We hope that you have a memorable stay in our beautiful country, and we wish you success in your deliberations today.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
24 May 2005
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: South African Hydrogen Economy and Fuel Cells Indaba
Address by the Honourable Mr Mosibudi Mangena, Minister of Science and Technology, at the South African Hydrogen Economy and Fuel Cells Indaba, Sheraton Pretoria Hotel and Towers
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
Economists have increasingly accepted the link between global competitiveness and the important role played by research, development and innovation. Globally, nations are expending a considerable amount of public and private resources in their respective science, engineering and technology bases, towards the creation of economic value. The common goal that these major economies are striving towards is economic competitiveness, growth and prosperity.
One of the objectives of the Department of Science and Technology, as set out in the National Research and Development Strategy, which was adopted in 2002, is to achieve mastery of technological change in South Africa’s economy and society, mainly by means of innovation. Within this context, the department is tasked with identifying and developing the lead sectors that will potentially expand the base for the creation of wealth, and position the country to compete successfully within the dynamic knowledge economy. To this end, my department identified the Hydrogen Economy and related Fuel Cells technologies as a “Frontier Science and Technology” area that could potentially change the innovation course of the country’s natural resources, and yield multiple social and economic benefits.
Hydrogen and fuel cells are believed to be the energy solutions for the 21st century, by enabling clean efficient production of power and heat from a range of primary energy sources. The transition to hydrogen is expected to greatly reduce dependency on oil and gas, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, especially when used in efficient fuel cells. In the spectrum of technologies that interconnect to build up the hydrogen economy vision, platinum plays a crucial role as a catalyst that converts hydrogen to electricity. According to the International Platinum Association, no other material has been shown to be as effective as platinum in Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells. The significance of this fact raises multiple issues for South Africa and its endowment with platinum resources.
It has been brought to my attention that researchers in South Africa have already started investigating some aspects of the technologies related to the hydrogen economy. We are hoping to interlink these processes and work closely to develop a robust strategy for the Hydrogen Economy in South Africa.
South Africa generally has an extremely strong propensity for new ideas and a world-class industrial profile, both underpinned by a well-established research base in its institutions. What is lacking is the existence of an equally robust base for the transformation of research outputs into commercial products and services, and the creation of new industries. This gap, known as the innovation chasm, has been aptly articulated in the National R&D Strategy as one of the major challenges facing the National System of Innovation.
Efforts have been made towards addressing this innovation chasm. Involving industry right at the beginning of our planning process is but one way of ensuring that public R&D is linked to industry.
The global energy industry is vast, with an annual turnover of over 1,7 trillion US Dollars; energy is the biggest business in the world. The sector, however, faces tremendous global challenges, which are driving the strong global Research and Development agenda. These challenges include global politics, global energy security, dwindling resources, ever increasing demand as a result of burgeoning economies, and increasingly stringent global environmental regulations.
For emerging economies like ours, these challenges are exacerbated by poverty and the inability to afford alternative energy technologies. Statistics show that only two thirds of South Africans have access to electricity, and only about 10% of Sub-Saharan Africans have access to clean reliable energy sources.
To this challenge, the Ministry of Minerals and Energy has stated that South Africa will lean towards an integrated approach, where a total household energy solution is provided, rather than just gas or just electricity. This approach may involve several energy carriers targeted at different market segments.
It is therefore even more relevant to Africa to ensure that innovation in this sector has a direct impact on the reduction of poverty and the improvement of the quality of life of our people. With the adoption of The White Paper on the Energy Policy of 1998, Government has developed a way of integrating its broad policy frameworks. Recognising the potential role that the energy sector could play in achieving national growth and development aims, the following five key objectives are identified in the White Paper on the Energy Policy:
* Increasing access to affordable energy services;
* Improving energy governance;
* Stimulating economic development;
* Managing energy-related environmental impacts; and
* Securing supply through diversity.
These objectives reflect the need for achieving a balance between economic growth,
environmental management and security of supply issues in the energy sector.
It is for these reasons that my department and that of Minerals and Energy have worked in partnership in the establishment of the National Energy Research Institute. This is the partnership we believe provides platforms to open up discussions around new technological developments that will potentially affect the energy choices of the future.
With our ambition to increase the investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP, from the 2003/04 level of 0,81% towards the 1% intermediate term target, we need to focus our efforts on those technological challenges that will yield maximum socio-economic benefits for the country.
Government’s role in building the economy is but one half of the picture. The private sector has also realised that their sustainable future depends on investment in research and development in new technologies and in capacity development.
The toughest challenge then, and one that is most exciting, is that of nurturing the interface between government initiatives and those of the private sector, thereby affording good innovations the greatest chance of making a smooth transition from the laboratory into the market. That challenge is the reason we have invited industry leaders at the inception of this debate.
My Ministry believes in the strengthening of partnerships with local and international partners. This objective is demonstrated through my Ministry’s continuous engagement in bilateral and multilateral agreements. In technologies where we are lagging behind, we have embraced the wisdom of not trying to reinvent the wheel. That is why we have decided to learn from those who are ahead, and planned our intervention from an informed base. This is our reason for inviting so many international experts to this Indaba.
I would like to sum up by emphasising that today’s indaba is opening the possibilities of the future hydrogen economy for South Africa. We have chosen to embark on a journey of bringing issues relating to the hydrogen economy to the fore in our country. We realise that this journey will not be easy because as a country we are faced with overwhelming socio-economic challenges. Our resolve is to put Science and Technology at work to address these challenges in a sustainable manner.
Let us work hard to make this journey a success. This will not only add value to our economy, but will also benefit our people in the long term. Let us pool and focus our energies, knowledge and skills to develop a robust plan of action with realistic, manageable milestones.
May I, in closing, thank all our international guests for making the time to be with us today. We hope that you have a memorable stay in our beautiful country, and we wish you success in your deliberations today.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
24 May 2005
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