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By Akani Nkuna
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT), in collaboration with Standard Bank, has launched a Green Hydrogen and Alternative Energy Hub to safeguard the environment and advance sustainable energy education, research, and innovation.
The initiative aims to cut carbon emissions while empowering students and driving economic growth in the Vaal Triangle and beyond.
Speaking at the official launch on Thursday, VUT Vice-Chancellor Khehla Ndlovu said South Africa has responded through the Hydrogen Society Roadmap, a national strategy that positions hydrogen as a key pillar of the country’s just energy transition.
“Here, in the heart of the Vaal, we know that industries are energy-intensive and that communities bear the burden of pollution and unemployment. We also know that our people carry the ambition to innovate, to engineer, to lead. That is why this Centre matters. It is not just about technology—it is about justice, jobs, and the joy of building a sustainable future,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu, speaking during the launch at the VUT Southern Gauteng Science & Technology Park in Sebokeng, said that the state-of-the-art facilities are designed to accelerate South Africa’s green energy transition through multidisciplinary academic collaboration and strategic partnerships.
The Centre will produce hydrogen gas from waste products and renewable-powered systems, incorporating the ideas of both academics and students to develop practical solutions that make hydrogen a viable tool in addressing the challenges of climate change.
Ndlovu stated that the Centre will be critical in equipping students with skills, research opportunities, and real-world experience to meet growing industry demand.
He also highlighted the significance of its Sebokeng location, offering students first-hand exposure to the effects of carbon emissions in an industrial area.
“It houses our Advanced Manufacturing Precinct, Technology Transfer Office, and innovation labs that connect researchers with local and global networks. Its mission has always been to foster industrial renewal through science and technology,” he added.
“By situating the Green Hydrogen Centre here, we anchor it within a space designed for applied research, skills development, and enterprise incubation.”
The Vice-Chancellor further emphasised that the Centre will provide green energy solutions specifically tailored for South African industry, arming the next generation of engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs with essential knowledge for the green economy.
“[The Centre] will empower communities by creating jobs, nurturing skills, and ensuring that the benefits of innovation are felt beyond the laboratory, in homes and in local enterprises. The ripple effects are profound: reduced carbon emissions, strengthened energy security, new business opportunities, and, above all, hope,” said Ndlovu.
During an interview with Inside Education outside the Centre, Ndlovu further reiterated the institution’s commitment to decarbonising the entire Sebokeng area and mitigating the health hazards posed by polluting firms.
“We have received R600,000 from Standard Bank and we are matching that amount for the initial costs. We also have our master plan for Sebokeng—not just the campus but the surrounding area—where we are committed to bringing in more buildings to decarbonise the region,” Ndlovu told Inside Education.
Meanwhile, Standard Bank Head of Business and Commercial Banking South, Simone Cooper, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to funding projects across sectors to combat carbon emissions.
She said the bank has allocated R33.6 billion in sustainable finance for infrastructure and R19.8 billion for new renewable energy power plants over the past year, resulting in an estimated cumulative installed renewable capacity of 1,703 megawatts.
“In the past year alone, our climate-focused approach has resulted in R2.4 billion in green finance for homes, R2.2 billion mobilised for planet-smart agriculture, and R2.9 billion provided to 1,500 businesses for renewable energy solutions. This represents a 27% increase in green energy generation capacity, reaching 235 megawatts,” Cooper added.
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