When it comes to energy, the world has entered a Roaring Twenties-equivalent with clean, green electricity demanded here, there and everywhere. Sir Mick Davis’ Vision Blue, together with Canada’s NextSource, are offering South Africa a local battery materials and local battery manufacturing opportunity.
On top of that, our own treasure chest of platinum group metals is serving as an economic and literal catalyst that gives sunny and windy South Africa the potential to elevate itself high into the hydrogen economy clouds through the domestic use and export of green and unmatchably clean electricity. This can be for stationary power generation in energy-bereft rural areas, and for fuel cell mobility for our big cars, buses, trains, trams, ships and aircraft.
The hydrogen route is by far the most far-reaching route to take and energise anything and everything. At the same time, battery technology is streaking ahead for cars that can recharge in their garages overnight and for power walls that give homes all the electricity they need. South Africa must grasp both roaring opportunities.