Hydrogen for Energy: Hyting Unveils Technology for Africa’s Energy Future

Tim Hannig, (T.H), CEO of Hyting, a hydrogen innovation start-up, is showcasing the world’s first air-guided hydrogen-powered heating solution at the Global African Hydrogen Summit (GAHs), which opens today, September 9, in Namibia. In this interview with Environment Africa’ Magazine’s Sam Nwosu (S.N), he shares why hydrogen holds unique promise for Africa’s industrial future, the scalability of his solution, and how it can help cut emissions across diverse sectors.

Excerpts:

S.N: You’re at the Global African Hydrogen Summit to showcase your hydrogen-powered heating solution. What makes this technology unique?

T.H: Our technology uses hydrogen as an energy carrier and converts it into heat through a simple catalytic process. We mix normal air with hydrogen in a non-flammable concentration, pass it through a catalyst, and trigger the reaction. Nothing burns — it’s a clean, safe process. It delivers high power at low cost, and because of its simplicity, it’s easy to maintain, repair, and operate compared to other hydrogen technologies.

It can be applied in a wide range of industries: crop drying, coffee roasting, meat drying, milk powder production, paper production, car paint drying, and more. That’s why we’re introducing it to the African hydrogen community — the applications are diverse, practical, and industrial.

S.N: How portable and scalable is this system?

T.H: Very scalable. We use mass-produced components from boiler technology, making it easy to manufacture and even possible to produce in Africa. Larger units are no problem — we’re currently at 10 and 50 kW, and next year we’ll scale to 300 kW. Providing heat for larger processes won’t be a challenge.

S.N: How does it compare to fossil fuel or electric heating?

T.H: Hydrogen projects in Africa are already attracting large-scale investment, often geared towards export either as Hydrogen or as Ammonia. But as hydrogen becomes cost-competitive, local industries can also benefit. Our technology positions Africa to incrementally create local value and not just export resources.

S.N: Why hydrogen instead of batteries or other storage?

T.H: Hydrogen is the best large-scale, long-term battery. It’s relatively easy to store and much more efficient to use directly to generate heat rather than re-electrifying it to then make electric heat. Our heater fits into decentralized energy clusters as a low-cost, efficient solution for processes and buildings.

S.N: How does it reduce emissions, especially in heat-intensive regions like Africa?

T.H: We’re not overly focused on building heating in Africa — that’s not a critical need. Instead, we target industrial heat processes like crop drying, where emissions can be cut significantly. Our system delivers hot air directly rather than heating water, which is simpler and better suited for African conditions.

We provide a heater that actually is just blowing warm air into a building, which is much simpler, and is much more prone to being used once in a while only. So we know that in Africa many houses do not have any heating capability, and some that have use them on rare occasions.

S.N: Can it be localized and replicated across Africa?

T.H: Yes. We’re already in talks with partners in South Africa. We don’t believe in just exporting; we want local partners who live and grow with the market. That’s the only sustainable way.

S.N: Can it be retrofitted into existing systems?

T.H: Absolutely. It can be integrated into ventilation systems without major changes. It also works well in hybrid setups — for example, combining with solar or heat pumps for “peak heating” when energy demand is highest.

S.N: Hydrogen safety is a concern. How is this system safe?

T.H: Safety was our first design principle. We only use non-flammable concentrations of hydrogen, so there’s never a flame inside the system. It’s been certified under EU gas appliance regulations. It’s simple to use and can be deployed in shared agricultural facilities where trained operators manage it. Sensors and software ensure optimal performance without manual intervention.

We also have sensors that are designed to ensure the system operates ideally; managing both downtime and soft maintenance.

S.N: What about hydrogen storage and hat type of hydrogen is used??

T.H: Our heater uses hydrogen gas at very low pressure (20 millibar). Whether stored as compressed, liquid, or via pipelines, our system operates the same — the storage method doesn’t affect performance.

On a chemical level, all hydrogen is the same. What matters is the production process. Our units produce zero emissions, but the hydrogen source determines the overall sustainability.

Our systems have also been tested for a 10 year lifespan, comparable to traditional heating systems.

S.N: How do you address concerns of greenwashing?

T.H: We’re transparent. Our units themselves emit nothing. We can control our production and manufacturing. What we can’t readily control is the hydrogen source, but as the hydrogen market becomes more transparent, this will be easier to verify.

S.N: How does the cost compare with other systems?

T.H: Our unit is about 20% more expensive than a gas burner, but only a third of the cost of a heat pump. For example, if a gas burner costs €4,000, our unit costs €5,000, while a heat pump can cost €20,000.

However, what we offer is something else. Our systems are safer, have much better quality and more longer term usage. In effect, you are getting more than what is currently out there in the market.

S.N: What challenges have you faced as a startup?

T.H: As a growing company, we rely on strong industrial partners for production and engineering. This allows us to focus on the core technology and market development. Our sweet spot is working with industries already using hydrogen, not selling to end-users without access to it.

We also are invested in working with the fossil fuel industry, as they have the infrastructure set up already. All we need to do is to retrofit and repurpose to ensure more hydrogen feedstock is produced.

S.N: Where do you see Hyting in the medium term?

T.H: In about 5-10 years, we expect Hyting to be established globally in process and building heating, especially in peak heating. By replacing fossil fuels, we’ll have significant environmental impact. In many developing regions, hydrogen networks will leapfrog gas infrastructure, making clean heating solutions the default.

S.N: What’s your goal at the Global African Hydrogen Summit?

T.H: We want to listen, learn, and understand Africa’s market needs. Beyond showcasing our technology, our focus is on building partnerships that can localize production, deployment, and long-term success.

Hyting is partnership-driven—we believe collaboration is the way to make hydrogen work for Africa.