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Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week on Tuesday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa positioned green hydrogen at the centre of Africa's big energy opportunity – and then on Wednesday in the US, speakers at the Washington-based Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association webinar heralded expanded tax-benefit business structures through America's' Master Limited Partnerships as the harbingers of new sought-after US hydrogen expansion opportunity.

In discussion with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the sustainability event, Ramaphosa emphasised the extent to which Africa's superior sunshine, strong wind corridors, powerful river systems, and critical minerals place the continent in a distinctive position to lead the world in green hydrogen production.

In the UAE, the headlines were 'Ramaphosa touts green hydrogen as cornerstone of Africa's energy, growth future' and 'Africa is where green hydrogen can be utilised to a highly significant extent'.

Meanwhile, at a solar site in US State of Florida, the New York Stock Exchange-listed Duke Energy last week demonstrated the production, storage and use of green hydrogen.

That followed the Nasdaq-listed hydrogen fuel cell company Plug Power's signing a letter of intent to install a 5 MW platinum-based proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser at Sunrhyse, Hy2gen's hydrogen production project in Signes, France. Plug Power will also support the transport and distribution of hydrogen produced at Sunrhyse and continue to expand its turnkey hydrogen forklift solutions for logistics bases across the region.

Interestingly, Plug Power last year installed the same megawattage PEM electrolyser for Cleanergy Solutions of Namibia to support hydrogen-powered trucks, small ships and vehicles converted on site for dual-fuel operation using hydrogen and conventional fuels.

Toyota Motor North America has announced a strategic investment in First Element Fuel, which is the largest retail hydrogen fuelling infrastructure provider in California. First Element Fuel has 92 retail fuelling positions across 38 locations. Toyota and First Element Fuel aim to strengthen infrastructure for fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) drivers and bolster the hydrogen fuelling network for current and future generations of FCEVs.

Fuel cell power systems company PowerCell has signed an agreement with a US data centre provider to supply two PowerCell fuel cell power systems for field validation in a data-centre application. The systems will be part of six-month to 12-month lease arrangements.

In India, a hydrogen-powered train is undergoing final trials to transport tourists between Jiind and Sonipat. Powered by platinum-based fuel cells, the hydrogen-powered train will travel at a speed of up to 150 km/h.

"Hydrogen will play a crucial role in India's energy transition," Indian Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi forecast after driving a hydrogen fuel cell Toyota Mirai car through central New Delhi as part of a public demonstration of Indian government commitment to green hydrogen transport.

In Germany, a traditional railway line north of Berlin is pioneering a new zero-emission passenger train, powered by Ballard hydrogen fuel cells. A new hydrogen facility will be built by Enertrag in Wensickendorf to enable regional production of green hydrogen from wind and solar energy. The on-site facility has the capacity to produce up to 380 t of green hydrogen a year, with 230 t of that reserved for supplying the Heidekrautbahn railway line between Barnim and Berlin.

In Austria, energy company OMV has secured funding from federal development bank Austria Wirtschaftsservice to support a 140 MW green hydrogen electrolyser plant at Bruck an der Leitha as part of a project ...