Decarbonising the World to Net Zero by 2050

The energy sector, transportation and agriculture are among the highest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions. The world is moving away from fossil fuels and encouraging sustainable renewable energy projects to reduce our carbon footprint, various forms of renewable energy are being explored to replace the existing energy generation facilities. We are a generation that is highly dependent on energy; therefore, it is a crucial component in sustaining human life, economic growth and industrial activities.

During the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) Maritime Day Parallel Event which was hosted by the City of Durban, South Africa has shown its support for the IMO emission reduction strategy, by finding new innovations and technologies to supply reliable and environmentally friendly greener shipping fuels. Industries are advocating for a greater inclusion and participation of the public and private sectors to work together in addressing the country’s energy transition plan. This is to ensure the country meets its decarbonisation targets and no one is left behind.

The world is trying to decarbonise to net zero by 2050 towards the goals of AIM 2050, with residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors. I have been privileged to have been part of the

Open Africa Power 2022 Programme by the Enel Foundation and the EUI Florence School of Regulation. The programme encourages critical thinking and practical solutions in decarbonising the energy sector and ensuring sustainable, affordable, quality and reliable access to energy. With a road map on how we can ensure 100% electrification in the country by 2030.

My Masters’s research MSc in Maritime Affairs, where I became the first South African female to Specialise in Maritime Energy Management was focused on wave energy and the production of green hydrogen through electrolysis. The research title was Wave energy a new energy mix to produce green hydrogen, a study on the Port of Ngqura, Southern Africa’s “Green Status Port”. I conducted a simulation using energy produced from the wave farm and the results showed that with wave energy converters in a row of 3 next to each other the energy produced by the wave farm was 2.973 GJ per month, which is equivalent to 18.58 tons of produced hydrogen, when we consider the lower heating value of hydrogen and if we assume hydrogen production efficiency is 75%. One of the findings showed the wave farm will produce enough hydrogen fuel to refuel a tugboat each month.