Cleanergy eyes 100MW solar growth
Cleanergy Solutions Namibia has applied to renew and amend its environmental clearance certificate, proposing a massive scale-up of its Green Hydrogen Demonstration Plant in the Erongo Region. This amendment outlines a transition from a pilot-scale facility to a significant industrial operation, positioning the project as a cornerstone of Namibia’s burgeoning green energy sector.
The proposed expansion centres on increasing solar generation from the originally approved 5 megawatt peak (MWp) to a 100 MWp photovoltaic facility. To ensure continuous hydrogen production despite the fluctuating nature of solar energy, the project developers intend to expand battery storage from 5.9 megawatt-hours to approximately 230 megawatt-hours. This infrastructure supports a 5 MW alkaline electrolyser, supplied by the American technology firm Plug Power. The system uses renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, providing the fuel for downstream industrial processes and transport trials in the Walvis Bay area.
A key feature of the amendment is the addition of a small-scale ammonia production plant. This facility is designed to produce approximately four tonnes of ammonia per day by combining on-site hydrogen with nitrogen extracted from the air. Ammonia serves as a vital hydrogen carrier, making the energy easier to store, transport, and potentially export through the nearby Port of Walvis Bay. The application also covers several essential supporting utilities, including a water treatment facility to produce purified water, a nitrogen generation unit, and process safety systems.
Launched in 2021 as a joint venture between the Ohlthaver & List Group and Belgium’s CMB.TECH, the project’s ownership recently evolved. In 2025, O&L sold its 51% shareholding to H₂Infra NV, a subsidiary of CMB.TECH, which now leads the project’s development. The Hydrogen Dune site has already proven successful in testing hydrogen systems under Namibia’s coastal desert conditions, and this expansion represents a move toward full-scale commercial viability.
