Windhoek, Namibia | December 19, 2025 – Zhero Europe, a leading clean energy developer, has officially signed a Development Funding Agreement with the SDG Namibia One Fund in a move that significantly boosts Africa’s green energy ambitions and the global maritime fuel transition. This strategic partnership accelerates the Zhero Molecules Walvis Bay Project, an industrial-scale green ammonia facility near Walvis Bay in the Erongo Region, positioning Namibia’s central coast as a future hub for zero-carbon marine fuels.
The fund, Namibia’s dedicated energy transition vehicle, has committed USD 5.15 million in development capital. This funding is designed to “de-risk” the project, enabling Zhero to complete the feasibility and technical activities required to reach a Final Investment Decision (FID) in 2027, with commercial operations slated to begin in 2030.
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Powering the Future of Maritime Fuel
For the bunkering industry, the Zhero Molecules project represents one of the most significant supply-side developments for the next generation of marine fuels. Green ammonia is widely regarded as a “holy grail” for decarbonizing the hard-to-abate shipping sector. Unlike traditional fuels, green ammonia (NH₃) contains no carbon atoms, meaning it emits zero CO₂ during combustion.
Once operational, the Walvis Bay facility is expected to produce 500,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually, effectively avoiding 1.2 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year. Given its strategic proximity to the deep-water export infrastructure at Walvis Bay, the project is ideally positioned to serve as a primary bunkering hub for the global shipping lanes crossing the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
The Infrastructure: 3 GW of Renewable Power
The sheer technical scale of the project underscores Namibia’s ambition to become a global green energy titan. The facility will be powered by a massive, integrated renewable energy system, including:
- 3 GW of Solar PV: Harvesting Namibia’s world-class solar irradiation.
- 2.2 GWh of Battery Energy Storage: Ensuring stable, 24/7 power for the chemical synthesis process.
- 1.6 GW Electrolyser System: A massive array that splits water into “green” hydrogen.
- Desalination Plant: A dedicated facility to provide the high-purity water needed for electrolysis without straining local freshwater resources.
- 110 km Transmission Line: New high-voltage infrastructure to connect the power generation sites with the production plant.
Blended Finance and Global Partnerships
The SDG Namibia One Fund (also known as Climate Investor Three Namibia) is a prime example of high-impact “blended finance.” It is managed by Climate Fund Managers (CFM) in partnership with the Dutch Invest International and the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF).
Backed by the European Union’s Global Gateway investment strategy, the fund currently manages EUR 65 million in early-stage capital and is actively raising more for the construction phase.
Leadership Perspectives
Darron Johnson, Regional Head of Africa at Climate Fund Managers, highlighted the strategic location: “The site benefits from exceptional solar resources, ample land, and direct access to deep-water export infrastructure. Our funding provides the early-stage capital needed to prepare the project for financial close, creating the conditions for private capital to invest at scale.”
Paolo Gallieri, COO of Zhero Europe, emphasized the partnership’s importance: “Namibia has the natural resources, strategic location, and national vision to become a global leader in green ammonia. This investment is pivotal to the success of a world-class facility that will create economic opportunities for the country and contribute to global decarbonization.”
Socio-Economic Impact
Beyond the environmental benefits, the project is a major driver for the Erongo Region’s economy. It is projected to create:
- 6,000 jobs during the intensive construction phase.
- 500 permanent roles for long-term operations.
- Local value chain growth, providing significant opportunities for Namibian SMEs and service providers.
Zhero: Accelerating the “Green Molecules” Revolution
Zhero is an agile, global developer of large-scale clean energy infrastructure. Founded on the principle of PPWS™ (Put the Panels Where it’s Sunny), the company targets regions with the highest solar irradiation and wind potential to produce the world’s most cost-competitive green electricity and molecules.
Unlike traditional energy firms, Zhero operates as a “first-principles” developer, focusing on integrating generation, storage, and long-distance export infrastructure to bridge the gap between low-cost production hubs and high-demand energy centers.
Source: Zhero Europe