Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) has installed a 5MW GenEco electrolyzer at a new green hydrogen plant in Walvis Bay, Namibia, marking a commercial first for Africa.
Announced on Wednesday, the system supports Cleanergy Solutions Namibia’s Hydrogen Dune project, which opened in September.
Additionally, the site combines Plug’s PEM electrolyzer with a 5MW solar park and battery storage. Furthermore, the off-grid plant spans more than 6.5 hectares and includes a 5.9 MWh energy storage system to stabilize output.
The facility produces renewable hydrogen directly at the coast, close to transport and port users. Meanwhile, Cleanergy plans to fuel hydrogen-powered trucks, port equipment, rail assets, and small vessels operating at Walvis Bay. The project also supports on-site vehicle conversions, allowing engines to run on hydrogen alongside conventional fuels.
Plug integrated hydrogen production with refuelling infrastructure to create a single, end-to-end clean energy system. However, company executives say the project matters less for size than for proving commercial readiness.
Jose Luis Crespo, president and chief revenue officer of Plug, said the installation shows green hydrogen now works in real operating conditions. The executive added that similar systems can scale quickly in regions with strong renewable resources.
“By deploying our electrolyzer technology in growing hydrogen markets such as Namibia, we are helping partners build reliable, scalable hydrogen infrastructure that can decarbonize transportation and industrial activity today while supporting long-term economic development,” said Crespo.
Also, Plug linked the Namibia project to rising global investment in hydrogen infrastructure. Developers increasingly target Africa, the Middle East, and Australia for early hydrogen deployment. Those regions offer abundant solar and wind power, along with supportive policy environments.
The Walvis Bay plant serves as a template for future hydrogen hubs across the continent. Cleanergy expects the facility to help position Namibia as a regional supplier of renewable hydrogen for transport and industry.
Read more: Bill Gates-backed hydrogen startup cuts workforce as commercial plans stall
Read more: Plug Power strengthens european footprint with hydrogen supply to H2CAST project
Potential impact is great for Namibia
Green hydrogen is hydrogen fuel produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity. This electricity typically comes from wind or solar power.
Electrolysis uses an electrolyzer that runs on zero-carbon electricity, so the process emits little to no greenhouse gases. Unlike grey hydrogen, which comes from fossil fuels without carbon capture, green hydrogen helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and supports decarbonization in heavy industries where direct electrification is difficult, such as steelmaking, maritime shipping, and long-distance transport.
For countries like Namibia, the potential impact is significant. Namibia has solar and wind resources that could produce green hydrogen at low cost and scale compared with other regions.
According to the Green Hydrogen Organization, a nonprofit international foundation that works to accelerate the global adoption of green hydrogen as a clean energy solution, the Namibian government has prioritized green hydrogen as a driver of economic growth and energy security. It’s aiming to leverage renewable power to produce hydrogen for both domestic use and export.
Projects such as large-scale hydrogen and ammonia plants have been proposed to create jobs, boost GDP and diversify energy exports while reducing reliance on imported energy. Exported hydrogen derivatives could serve clean fuel markets abroad and bring foreign exchange into the Namibian economy
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