Cleanergy Solutions Namibia (Cleanergy) is targeting to sell its hydrogen products to heavy duty equipment companies within the Walvis Bay area.
The company, which was recently awarded a grant to set up a Hydrogen pilot plant and refueling station at the coast of Namibia, is a joint venture between the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group and its international Belgium-based partner, CMB.TECH.
“One of these four projects include our Cleanergy pilot plant and refueling station. We plan to be up and running at the end of 2023. We are immensely proud of this initiative which is a first in Namibia. With our training centre we want to upskill Namibians to kickstart the hydrogen economy in Walvis Bay,” said O&L Group Director: Innovations Eike Krafft.
This comes as green hydrogen is being touted globally as a vital carrier of non-fossil energy at a time when developed countries are trying to decarbonise their industries and guide economies towards a greener energy future.
“We know that Namibia has vast potential to develop a strong green hydrogen industry and become a key player in global energy markets. We have all the ingredients necessary (wind, sun and seawater) to develop a sustainable green hydrogen industrial base to drive socio-economic growth and O&L is pleased to be one of the forerunners in this new industry in our country,” said Krafft.
Roy Campe, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at CMB.TECH, said green hydrogen will transform Walvis Bay to become the first hydrogen port in Africa.
“To kickstart the hydrogen economy it is key to produce and deliver green hydrogen at an affordable cost. Thanks to the grants it will become economically advantageous for local Namibians to use these new fuels and get acquainted with the technology. For the consumption of the hydrogen, we will look to heavy duty equipment within the Walvis Bay area. As CMB.TECH, we have developed vast expertise in hydrogen applications. This expertise enables us to support local partners with the necessary technology,” he said.
The project is being funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), through the Namibian Government, supported by Southern African Science Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL).
The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) which is part of the master plan for four green hydrogen industry pilot projects worth N$892 million which will soon be implemented in Namibia says its targeting to increase the usage of clean energy to power its operations.
