Namibia Advances Green Hydrogen Ambitions

Namibia is moving from green hydrogen ambition to industrial application with the commissioning of what is described as Africa’s first fully integrated green hydrogen facility in Walvis Bay.

Developed by CMB.TECH Namibia, the facility combines solar generation, hydrogen production and battery storage in an off-grid system designed to supply clean energy directly to industrial users. The project offers a practical test case for how renewable power and hydrogen can be integrated into Africa’s industrial decarbonisation plans.

The facility’s 5MWp solar park spans 6.5 hectares and supplies a 5MW proton exchange membrane electrolyser, supported by a 5.9MWh battery energy storage system. Solar electricity powers the electrolyser, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.

The hydrogen is already being positioned for applications across transport and industry, including dual-fuel trucks, generators and Namibia’s first hydrogen-powered freight locomotive. Longer term, the project could support port operations and maritime fuel supply, with green hydrogen converted into ammonia for shipping.

Siemens is providing the electrical, automation and safety systems that connect the facility’s different technologies. Sabine Dall’Omo, CEO of Siemens Sub-Saharan Africa, said the project demonstrates that large-scale clean energy production is now commercially and technically achievable in Africa.

For Namibia, the significance extends beyond energy production. CMB.TECH is using the hydrogen itself, effectively creating an initial internal offtake market. This addresses one of the major challenges facing emerging hydrogen projects: securing reliable demand alongside production capacity.

The site also incorporates a Hydrogen Academy, aimed at developing the technical skills required to operate and maintain hydrogen infrastructure. Of the facility’s 25 employees, 24 are Namibian, with training supported through the academy and partnerships with local institutions.
The project’s developers now have significantly larger ambitions. The existing 5MWp solar installation occupies only a small portion of the available site, with plans to scale generation first to 250MW and eventually 500MW.

That expansion could position Walvis Bay as more than a demonstration site. With Namibia’s strong solar resource, port infrastructure and growing hydrogen ecosystem, the country is seeking to establish itself as a regional production and export hub for green fuels.

For Africa’s energy sector, the project provides a tangible example of how renewable generation, storage, hydrogen production, transport and skills development can be developed as one industrial ecosystem rather than as standalone projects.