The world’s first hydrogen solar farm will be built in Belgium.

Near Namur in Belgium, the world’s first solar farm is being built that will produce not only electricity from solar panels but also green hydrogen. The facility is scheduled to open in 2026, and the project is considered a breakthrough in renewable energy technology.

Hydrogen from air and sunlight
The technology enabling hydrogen production from sunlight and moisture in the air was developed over a decade ago at KU Leuven University. The Leuven-based start-up Solhyd, founded by the scientists involved in this research, has transformed the concept into a functioning hydrogen panel.

Each panel uses cylinders containing materials that absorb water vapor from the air and then split it into hydrogen and oxygen via a special membrane. The hydrogen is collected, while the oxygen is released back into the atmosphere. The entire process requires no fossil fuels, rare materials, or conventional electrolyzers, making the technology fully environmentally friendly.

Belgian innovation with global significance
The hydrogen solar farm near Namur will be the first commercial deployment of this technology. Initially, the installation will have a capacity of 50 kW, with plans to expand to 2 MW in the coming years.

The project is being carried out by a consortium of four companies:

• Solhyd – will supply and service the hydrogen panels,
• Nippon Gases – will handle hydrogen capture and storage,
• Ether Energy – will be the project owner and operator,
• SunBuild – responsible for installing solar panels and battery systems.

The collaboration agreement was signed on Wednesday at TRANSfarm in Bierbeek, where Solhyd is headquartered.

Green hydrogen for industry
The hydrogen produced is primarily intended for industrial users — in the steel, aviation, and shipping sectors.
– “These are the most logical applications. For households, hydrogen is too complex. Heating and transport can become more sustainable through electrification,” emphasized Jan Rongé, co-founder and CEO of Solhyd.

Greening hydrogen production — key to climate goals
Currently, hydrogen production accounts for about 2% of global CO₂ emissions, mainly due to the use of fossil fuels.
– “It may seem small, but it is equivalent to the emissions of the entire aviation sector. If we want to meet our climate goals, greening hydrogen production is essential,” Rongé noted.

The new farm near Namur is not only a technological breakthrough but also proof that hydrogen production can become a clean, scalable, and cost-effective element of the energy transition.