Africa’s First Green Hydrogen Hub Targets Shipping Emissions with Ambitious Expansion Plans

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Global shipping accounts for more than 80 percent of world trade while producing around one billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. As pressure mounts to decarbonize maritime transport, CMB.TECH and Siemens are demonstrating how green hydrogen could become a commercially viable alternative at a pioneering facility in Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Just two years ago, the site outside Walvis Bay consisted largely of sand dunes. Today it hosts Africa’s first solar powered multimodal green hydrogen facility, integrating hydrogen production, energy storage, refueling infrastructure, and renewable electricity generation.

The project is already producing green hydrogen for industrial applications, with plans to expand into green ammonia production for the maritime sector in the coming years. Green ammonia is widely viewed as one of the most promising low carbon marine fuels because it can be transported more easily than hydrogen and used by next generation vessels.

For CMB.TECH, the project addresses both environmental and commercial objectives.

“Our 250 ships consume vast amounts of diesel,” said Roy Campe, Chief Technology Officer at CMB.TECH, explaining that the company intends to gradually convert parts of its fleet to ammonia to reduce fuel related emissions.

One of the biggest barriers facing green hydrogen developments worldwide is securing long term buyers before construction begins.

Walvis Bay tackles that challenge differently.

Rather than relying on future customers, CMB.TECH immediately became its own first consumer of the hydrogen produced at the facility.

“We are our own first customer,” Campe said, ensuring demand exists from the first day of operation.

According to Siemens, this commercial structure distinguishes the project from many other hydrogen initiatives that have struggled to progress beyond planning stages.

Sabine Dall’Omo, who leads Siemens’ Sub Saharan Africa business, noted that many projects invest heavily in renewable generation and hydrogen production without securing commercial offtake agreements capable of supporting long term operations.

The current installation is powered by a 5 megawatt solar array comprising approximately 7,000 solar panels.

Hydrogen currently fuels trucks, tractors, and port equipment, while trial operations are underway involving a hydrogen powered locomotive. Shipping applications are expected to follow once green ammonia production comes online.

The long term ambitions are considerably larger.

“The next step is to increase capacity to 250 megawatts, then to 500,” Campe said.

If completed, the expansion would transform Walvis Bay into one of the world’s largest green hydrogen production facilities.

The project also illustrates Namibia’s broader ambition to establish itself as a renewable energy exporter, supplying green fuels to Europe and other international markets while creating a new industrial sector domestically.

Unlike many industrial facilities, the Walvis Bay plant operates entirely off grid.

Solar generation is combined with battery energy storage to provide the continuous electricity required for electrolysis, while Siemens supplied the electrical infrastructure, automation systems, switchgear, safety systems, and process controls.

Before construction started, Siemens engineers developed a complete digital twin of the facility, allowing engineers to simulate and optimize plant performance before physical installation.

Today, around 80 percent of plant operations are automated, with future phases expected to incorporate artificial intelligence to further improve efficiency and scalability.

The project is designed to create more than renewable fuel production.

Most plant components are manufactured within Africa, reducing dependence on lengthy international supply chains while supporting regional suppliers.

Workforce development is equally important.

Through the H2 Academy established by CMB.TECH, Namibians receive specialist training for careers across the emerging hydrogen economy.

Currently, 24 of the facility’s 25 employees are Namibian and have completed training through the academy.

Walvis Bay Mayor Johannes Shimbilinga said the project supports national ambitions for industrialization, local business development, and employment creation, particularly for younger generations seeking opportunities in the country’s emerging clean energy sector.