Recently the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) took part in two impactful pilot project site visits: the Daures Green Hydrogen Village (DGHV) and Cleanergy Solutions Namibia. These visits undertaken alongside the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (BMBF) highlighted major milestones and underscored Namibia’s progress in building a climate-resilient green hydrogen economy.

Progress at Daures Green Hydrogen Village

The Daures Green Hydrogen Village, the first green hydrogen village in Africa, is a pioneering initiative at the forefront of the country’s green hydrogen journey. As the implementing partner, SASSCAL joined key stakeholders for a high-level meeting and technical site visit, including representatives from:

• BMBF (project funder)
• Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGHP)
• Ministry of Mines and Energy (MIME)
• German Embassy in Namibia
• University of Namibia (UNAM)
• University of Stuttgart

As of March 2025, the overall implementation progress stands at 80%. Major updates include:

• Agricultural production under greenhouse irrigation is active, with successful harvesting of cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell peppers supplied to retail outlets in nearby towns.
• A 0.74 MW solar power plant, staff housing, and access roads are all completed and awaiting commissioning.
• Borehole infrastructure is fully operational: 3 boreholes are equipped and pumping, while 5 others are on standby.
• Reverse osmosis systems for water purification and wastewater recycling systems are installed.
• The Research Lab is fully constructed and equipped with advanced training tools.
• Ongoing research is being conducted by UNAM and the University of Stuttgart, including a comparative study using commercial ammonium sulphate while awaiting green ammonia production for fertilizer trials.

While the hydrogen electrolyser and ammonia generation systems are not yet installed, commissioning is expected by end of June 2025.

 “This collaborative effort is a testament to what can be achieved through shared vision, innovation, and international cooperation.”

Progress at Cleanergy Green Hydrogen Plant and Refuelling Station Solutions Namibia

The second visit took place at Cleanergy Green Hydrogen Plant and Refuelling Station, a flagship project showcasing Namibia’s first fully integrated green hydrogen hub. The SASSCAL and BMBF delegation toured the facility, which now includes:

• A solar plant with a capacity of 5 MW integrated with a battery energy storage system installed on site and functioning;
• A hydrogen academy supporting and building local capacity through skills development to local stakeholders from higher education institutions such as UNAM, NUST, NIMT, local municipalities in collaboration with international partners.
• A fully equipped workshop converting diesel trucks into dual fuel vehicles;
• Green hydrogen production infrastructure with all the components of the hydrogen production unit including the electrolyser system is all installed on site. The installation of the electrolyser system is expected to commence by beginning of May 2025. First test green hydrogen generation run to be done by end May 2025 and final pure generation to start by end June 2025.
• An operational hydrogen refuelling station, marking a significant milestone toward clean transportation.

For SASSCAL, the visit reaffirmed the importance of investing in practical, scalable models that:

• Advance green hydrogen technologies;
• Strengthen local technical capacity and education through on site local training;
• Promote green jobs and youth empowerment and
• Enhance regional climate resilience.

“Cleanergy Green Hydrogen Plant and Refuelling Station is a living example of how infrastructure, innovation, and partnership can unlock transformative change.”

The Daures and Cleanergy visits clearly illustrate how Namibia is moving from concept to implementation in its green hydrogen strategy. Both projects highlight the power of cross-sector partnerships and underscore the importance of embedding science, skills development, training and sustainability into every stage of implementation.

As the coordinating and implementing partner for multiple green hydrogen and renewable energy initiatives, SASSCAL remains deeply committed to sustaining the momentum achieved in Namibia and across the broader Southern African region. At the same time, we are delighted to contribute and support the initiatives in national policies on sustainable development, energy security, energy access and climate change.

We are proud to contribute to efforts that translate scientific innovation into tangible, sustainable outcomes driving green jobs, energy security, and climate resilience.

Our sincere appreciation goes to BMBF and all our project partners for their continued collaboration and trust.

Together, we are transforming Namibia’s green hydrogen potential into a powerful driver of sustainable development across the region.