Another green milestone for Nam

Cleanergy Solutions Namibia, a joint venture between the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group and CMB.TECH, last week kicked off construction works for Africa's first public green hydrogen refuelling station.

The hydrogen production plant, established in Walvis Bay, uses solar energy for hydrogen production onsite. This innovative facility will supply hydrogen to trucks, port equipment and railway applications.

The station is expected to be fully operational by the middle of next year.

O&L executive chairman Sven Thieme, described the development as a catalyst for economic growth, which will empower Namibians with expertise, and creates numerous local job opportunities.

The chief executive officer of CMB.TECH, Alexander Saverys, said: “Cleanergy is a very important investment for the CMB Group. It is the first major hydrogen production project in Africa and will prove that green hydrogen can be produced efficiently and cheaply with renewable African sun.”



Academy



As an integral part of this project, a Hydrogen Academy will be established to educate and train local individuals on hydrogen technology and its wide-ranging applications.

This crucial initiative fosters local expertise and trains future professionals in all aspects of hydrogen production and its applications.

“Through this green hydrogen plant, refuelling station and training centre, we will not only demonstrate the feasibility of hydrogen production in the country, but also develop the skills and knowledge needed to sustain this new industry,” Thieme said.

He added: “This plant will be a valuable contribution to the emerging hydrogen industry in Namibia and will provide us with the learnings that we can apply to the future expansion of the project.”

Cleanergy’s onsite workshop will be responsible for converting the initial fleet of trucks to dual fuel technology by its team of newly trained technical staff.



Solar power



The Cleanergy Solutions Namibia project includes a 10-hectare solar park with a hydrogen production facility equipped with a 5 Megawatt Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyser and a 5-Megawatt hour battery.

This plant directly uses solar energy to produce hydrogen, which is then made available at the public hydrogen refuelling station for trucks and heavy-duty applications.

The electrolyser will produce green hydrogen utilising the electricity input from the solar park and the energy stored in the BESS (Battery Energy Storage System).

A hybrid control system will efficiently manage the electricity flow to ensure stable green hydrogen production and a reliable and stable mini grid.

This set-up is unique worldwide and will equip Cleanergy Solutions Namibia with the necessary knowledge for its future developments, the company said.

The site is developed as a highly adaptable project that can seamlessly incorporate additional activities and technologies. This inclusive approach aligns and supports Cleanergy Solutions Namibia’s goal to empower the Namibians through upskilling initiatives.



Green ammonia



Besides the development of the hydrogen production plant, Cleanergy is exploring a partnership with Fortescue.

By joining forces, both partners will operate in synergy to accelerate the new green economy in Namibia.

“We aim to make Walvis Bay a clean fuel hotspot in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“The partnership has the focus to build a green ammonia plant next to the hydrogen production plant. This joint development between Fortescue and Cleanergy will mark the beginning of a future oriented cooperation,” the company said.