Sasol has selected Envision Energy to carry out a design study for a potential green hydrogen system at its Sasolburg operations in South Africa, exploring how renewable hydrogen could support future production of lower-carbon fuels and chemicals, including eMethanol and potentially sustainable aviation fuel.
The study will examine how renewable power generation, battery energy storage and electrolyser technology could be integrated to produce green hydrogen at the industrial site. Its findings are expected to provide Sasol with the technical and commercial information needed to evaluate whether to take the project forward.
No final investment decision has been announced, and the potential hydrogen facility remains at the study stage.
The collaboration was highlighted during a visit by South Africa’s Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, to Envision Energy’s Chifeng Hydrogen Net Zero Industrial Park in Inner Mongolia, China. The visit took place in connection with the South Africa-China Energy Investment Conference.
Green hydrogen could feed eMethanol and eSAF production
If the project progresses, green hydrogen produced at Sasolburg could potentially become a feedstock for eMethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF).
This would allow Sasol to build on existing industrial infrastructure and capabilities at Sasolburg while assessing new production routes for lower-carbon fuels and chemicals.
“The design study with Envision is an important step in assessing how integrated renewables, energy storage and electrolyser technologies could support cost-competitive green hydrogen production at Sasolburg,” said Danie Cronje, Sasol Senior Vice President: Business Building.
Cronje said the company will evaluate how the technologies could contribute to future lower-carbon fuel and chemical value chains while making use of Sasol’s existing industrial capabilities.
Integrated renewable energy and hydrogen system
Envision’s proposed approach combines renewable electricity, battery energy storage systems and electrolysers. The system would seek to optimise hydrogen production according to forecast electricity availability and pricing.
Integrating these components could be particularly relevant for green hydrogen because electrolysers need large amounts of electricity, while renewable generation from sources such as wind and solar varies over time. Storage and energy-management systems can therefore form part of the overall production configuration.
Envision Energy Senior Vice President Kane Xu said green hydrogen could play an important role in transforming industries that are difficult to decarbonise.
The design phase is scheduled to be completed later in 2026.
For Sasol, the study represents an early-stage assessment rather than a commitment to construct the facility. Its significance lies in evaluating whether green hydrogen can be integrated with the company’s established industrial operations at Sasolburg and ultimately provide a viable foundation for new eMethanol and potentially eSAF production pathways.
The collaboration also adds a green hydrogen dimension to growing energy cooperation between South Africa and China, with Sasol drawing on Envision’s experience across renewable generation, energy storage and hydrogen technology to evaluate the economics and technical feasibility of a future integrated system.