Plug Power Inc has installed a 5MW GenEco electrolyser system at Cleanergy Solutions Namibia’s green hydrogen project in Walvis Bay, marking the launch of Africa’s first fully integrated commercial green hydrogen facility, the company said on 17 December.
The plant, which officially opened in September, is located at Cleanergy Solutions Namibia’s Hydrogen Dune site and operates off grid.
The facility combines a 5MW solar park spanning more than 6.5 hectares with a 5.9 MWh battery energy storage system, enabling the production of renewable hydrogen for local use.
Plug’s President and Chief Revenue Officer, Jose Luis Crespo, said projects such as Cleanergy Solutions Namibia demonstrate how green hydrogen is transitioning from concept to commercial application.
“By deploying our electrolyser technology in growing hydrogen markets such as Namibia, we are helping partners build reliable, scalable hydrogen infrastructure. This can decarbonise transport and industrial activity today while supporting long-term economic development,” Crespo said.
Hydrogen produced at the site will be used to supply hydrogen-powered trucks, port and rail equipment, as well as small vessels operating through the Port of Walvis Bay. The project will also supply vehicles converted on site for dual-fuel operation using hydrogen alongside conventional fuels.
The development integrates renewable power generation, hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure into a single system, creating a vertically integrated model that links renewable electricity to hydrogen use across transport, maritime operations and industrial applications.
Plug said the Walvis Bay project reflects broader global investment trends in hydrogen, with regions including Africa, the Middle East and Australia emerging as early commercial hubs due to strong renewable resources and supportive policy frameworks.
The company said the Namibia project is intended to serve as a replicable model for hydrogen infrastructure development across the continent.
Plug operates an integrated hydrogen ecosystem covering production, storage, delivery and power generation. It has deployed more than 72,000 fuel-cell systems and 285 hydrogen refuelling stations globally, and operates hydrogen production plants in Georgia, Tennessee and Louisiana with a combined capacity of about 40 tonnes per day.
