SMA Altenso Reaches Gigawatt Milestone with Groundbreaking Hydrogen Project in Namibia

3:11 am UTC March 23, 2025 Mar 23, 2025 | by: SMA | Energy

(Photo by: SMA)

SMA Altenso, a subsidiary of SMA Solar Technology AG, is advancing global renewable energy use through innovative hydrogen projects, now surpassing 1 gigawatt in total power delivered for hydrogen applications.

SMA Altenso has achieved a major milestone, surpassing 1 gigawatt (GW) of total power delivered for hydrogen-based energy applications. This achievement follows the successful installation of SMA inverter technology at Cleanergy Solutions Namibia's hydrogen project, highlighting Altenso's pioneering role in sustainable energy solutions that integrate photovoltaics, battery storage, and hydrogen production.

"We are proud of this gigawatt milestone and of more than 80 successfully implemented hydrogen projects, which mostly produce green hydrogen using PV and wind energy," said Dr. Jens Eiko Birkholz, Head of Sales & Business Development at Altenso. "Our team's expertise in technology and international project management is crucial for delivering increasingly complex projects, including offshore implementations. The projects we support enable the production of up to 130,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, contributing significantly to decarbonizing industrial processes."

SMA CEO Jürgen Reinert added, "In the rapidly evolving market for hydrogen and renewable energy, stable grid integration and efficient load control are essential. With SMA's cutting-edge technologies and Altenso's strong project capabilities, we are playing a vital role in integrating renewable energies into utility grids and shaping the future of energy."

In the ongoing project along Namibia's Atlantic coast, Altenso is handling system integration for battery storage (BESS) and acting as a power-to-gas (P2G) solution provider for hydrogen production. The photovoltaic farm and battery inverter technology were successfully installed and commissioned by the end of 2024, with hydrogen production scheduled to begin in mid-2025. SMA’s rectifier solution, specifically developed for hydrogen applications, utilizes advanced IGBT technology to ensure compatibility with multiple electrolyzer types and offers integrated grid services like fault ride-through (FRT) and reactive power support.

Additionally, Altenso has developed an advanced energy management system (EMS) that optimizes hydrogen production through PV forecasts and dynamic energy demand profiles, further boosting the project's sustainability and efficiency.