- Crossroads Green Energy 1430MW Solar PV Cluster now fully permitted.
- Construction planned to commence in Q4 2026.
- The Solar PV project will supply power to Coega Green Ammonia in Nelson Mandela Bay.
- Also announced: SA-H2 Fund (“SA-H2” also known as “CI3 South Africa”), managed by a partnership between leading climate finance investor Climate Fund Managers (“CFM”) and Dutch development financing institution, Invest International, has committed up to USD 20mn in development funding to complete the final stage of development of the Hive Hydrogen Coega Green Ammonia Project – South Africa’s first large-scale green ammonia production facility.
- The agreement also secures the SA-H2 Fund’s right to participate in construction funding for up to USD 200mn. Financial close is targeted for H2 2026, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2029.
Hive Hydrogen South Africa is developing one of the world’s largest green hydrogen projects—Coega Green Ammonia—located in Coega, Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape, that will produce over 1 million tons of ammonia annually using renewable solar and wind energy, desalinated water from the Indian Ocean, and nitrogen extracted from the air.
The project has reached another major milestone with the completion of its 1430MW Solar PV Cluster Development phase, which will supply 40% of the plant’s power requirements. Developed in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa —one of the highest average annual solar irradiation areas globally— this will be the largest Solar PV project in the country and in the Southern Hemisphere.
A consortium comprising of the French renewable energy developer and IPP company, Akuo Energy, Africoast Investments South Africa and Golden Sunshine Trading South Africa have co-developed the nine Crossroads Green Energy solar PV sites close to the towns of Philipstown, Petrusville and Vanderkloof together with Hive Hydrogen.
Following the successful Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Records of Decision in May 2024 for 1,230MW of Solar PV, which have had no objections or land claims, the Crossroads Green Energy cluster was expanded by an additional 200MW. This supplementary EIA Record of Decision has been confirmed and most crucially the required permits, authorizations, clearances, and consents for the Cross Roads Green Energy project sites have now all been received.
Port of Ngqura container Terminal in Coega, South Africa. Image credit: Coega
Located in Coega, Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape South Africa, the Project site is fit-for-purpose and does not need the development and construction of new significant infrastructure. Outstanding grid connected renewable energy assets with over 90% plant utilisation factor achievable makes this one of the global leaders in the rapidly evolving new Green Hydrogen Industry with one of the lowest selling prices in the industry anticipated.
The Green Ammonia Production Facility being developed by Hive Hydrogen South Africa has the following key attributes:
- Haber-Bosch Ammonia loop producing +1 000 000 metric tons per year
- Up to 1 120 MW of electrolyser
- Up to four 35 000 ton ammonia storage tanks
- 7km Cryogenic ammonia pipeline linking plant to deep water export berth in Port of Ngqura;
Renewable Energy assets:
- Solar PV up to 1430 MW(ac)
- Two Wind Clusters of 1 272 MW, and 608 MW respectively
Green Ammonia will be exported predominantly to Off-takers in Europe and the Far East from the Port of Ngqura in Nelson Mandela Bay, adjacent to the Coega Special Economic Zone where the production plant is located.
Hive Hydrogen South Africa is co-founded by Hive Energy and BuiltAfrica. The BuiltAfrica Group, located in Waterfall Point Office Park in Midrand near Johannesburg, was founded in 2008 by Thulani Gcabashe, former chairman of Standard Bank Group (2015–2022), Imperial Holdings Limited (2008–2015), MTN Zakhele Limited (2010–2015), and CEO of Eskom (2000–2007). The group specializes in developing renewable energy projects and in consulting on energy efficiency.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
1 Comment
Hi this a good and very important project for the community of Petrusville and will minimise the level of poverty and unemployment. Hope the best for everything.