WALVIS BAY – Namibia yesterday registered a significant milestone in its quest for sustainable energy, positioning the country as a leader in the green hydrogen industry.
For this milestone, President Nangolo Mbumba, credited his predecessor, the late Hage Geingob as the main driving force and dreamer.
According to him, dreaming and planning are beneficial, but tangible actions, as advocated by the late Geingob, are prerequisites in national development.
“It was hard work to liberate and build an economy for Namibia, and it has not been an easy task. But here we are, discussing things nobody could ever dream about. Today, we are fuelling trucks with green hydrogen. Had we said this four years ago, people would have deemed us abnormal,” a jubilant Mbumba said.
“If it were not for him (Geingob), we would not be here discussing a completely new industry that employs people other than the fishing industry… Let them say what they want to say, but the industry is here for the benefit of all Namibians,” he said while inaugurating the Cleanergy green hydrogen service station in Walvis Bay yesterday.
Cleanergy is a joint venture between Namibia’s Ohlthaver & List (O&L) and CMB.TECH, a subsidiary of Belgian company Compagnie Maritime Belge.
It is primarily aimed at constructing a green hydrogen pilot plant, refuelling station and training centre.
Hydrogen produced from the project will be generated solely using renewable energy (solar), while the proposed powerline will run from the Cleanergy site east of Dune 7 on Farm 58, in a southerly direction.
It will cross the existing C14 Road, and connect with the existing 11kV T-off and ErongoRED powerline.
The Cleanergy project encompasses a 10-hectare solar park featuring a hydrogen production facility equipped with a five-megawatt proton exchange membrane electrolyser, and a five-megawatt hour battery. This innovative set-up directly utilises solar energy to produce green hydrogen. The electrolyser converts electricity from the solar park and energy stored in the battery energy storage system (BESS) into green hydrogen.
A hybrid control system ensures stable production and manages electricity flow, creating a reliable and robust mini-grid. This unique approach positions Cleanergy Solutions Namibia as a leader in renewable hydrogen production.
This project focuses on inclusivity, aiming to empower the local workforce through upskilling. Also speaking at the inauguration, King Philippe of Belgium expressed pride in both countries’ commitment to preserving the planet for future generations.
“We are here to collaborate towards achieving this goal. Protecting our environment and its biodiversity necessitates climate neutrality, a target we aim to achieve by 2050. We strive to ensure that no one is left behind. That is why we are making electricity from renewable energy sources available to all our citizens, in a spirit of inclusiveness,” he said.
According to him, both Namibia and Belgium strongly believe in the pivotal role green hydrogen will play in transitioning towards renewable energy, be it for
shipping, road transport, trains or even for small-scale local necessities such as meal preparation.
This joint ambition to lead globally in green hydrogen resulted in the establishment of a strategic partnership at the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow three years ago.
“This project is a ground-breaking demonstration of pioneering hydrogen production in Africa. It aims to showcase that green hydrogen and ammonia can be efficiently produced, based on renewable energy sources. Namibia boasts immense solar and wind energy potential, a thriving workforce, a favourable business climate and most importantly, a vision of becoming a leader in sustainable energy in sub-Saharan Africa. Belgium contributes with its unique expertise and industrial capacity in renewables and hydrogen,” he said.