- The WaveRoller wave farm will be developed off the coast of Swakopmund and will enable significant cost reductions for new green hydrogen development.
- The announcement comes in anticipation of Kaoko’s flagship project, the Purros Hydrogen Hub, which has operation and production slated to begin in November 2025.
AW-Energy and Kaoko Green Energy Solutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop near-shore wave energy infrastructure for green hydrogen production in Namibia. The WaveRoller wave farm will be set off the coast of Swakopmund and will enable significant cost reductions for new green hydrogen development.
AW-Energy CEO Christopher Ridgewell said, “With an energetic and consistent wave resource, Namibia is well positioned to use the benefits of wave energy to enable sustainable industries and jobs. We look forward to demonstrating WaveRoller’s value in desalination and green hydrogen production.” The MoU outlines a three-phase operation schedule, with wave energy plants commissioned once design and assessment efforts are complete.
The MoU also outlines a knowledge-sharing agreement, local capacity building and hiring expectations, and opportunities for cooperation in exploring new ocean energy opportunities. Each WaveRoller-X device is rated at 15kW per unit and operates at an estimated capacity factor of 30-40%. Once deployed as a single system, the plants can deliver 200 MW annually to onshore communities.
Gerson Nasau, Kaoko Director, said, “Wave energy changes at a much lower rate and is much more predictable than wind and solar. These characteristics have prompted the development of the technology.”