Driving Green Hydrogen Growth in Emerging Markets

Climate Fund Managers (CFM) has launched Climate Investor Three (CI3), a €150 million blended finance fund focused on accelerating the energy transition and green hydrogen development in emerging markets. Backed by European donors, CI3 aims to mobilize both public and private capital to drive large-scale climate impact.

How the Fund Works

CI3 follows a family-of-funds approach, deploying capital directly into projects or through country-specific funds:

SDG Namibia One: A partnership with Namibia’s Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) and Invest International, this fund will drive Namibia’s green hydrogen sector.
SA-H2 Fund: Supported by Invest International, Sanlam Limited, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), this fund will accelerate South Africa’s energy transition.

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Why This Matters

Green hydrogen, produced via water electrolysis powered by renewable energy, is crucial for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries such as transport and manufacturing. With abundant solar and wind resources, Namibia and South Africa are well-positioned to become leaders in green hydrogen production, fostering low-carbon economic growth.

What Industry Leaders Are Saying

Hans Docter, co-CEO of Invest International, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “Green hydrogen holds immense potential to drive sustainable development in emerging markets and support the global energy transition.”

Sebastiaan Surie, Head of Hydrogen at CFM, highlighted the fund’s strategic vision: “Green hydrogen is a cornerstone of the global energy transition. With a strong project pipeline in Namibia and South Africa, we invite public and private investors to partner with us in shaping the global energy transition.”

Benedict Libanda, CEO of EIF, stressed the need for collaboration: “Global partnership is vital to support the energy transition and particularly green hydrogen development in Namibia. Collaboration among stakeholders is essential to overcome technological challenges and scale up production and export.”

What’s Next?

CFM’s CI3 fund aims to position emerging markets as global green hydrogen hubs while aligning with international climate targets. Through a smart mix of public and private investments, the fund is set to drive economic growth and accelerate the global shift to clean energy.

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