Kent to oversee Yanbu green hydrogen project

Kent has been appointed by ACWA Power as Owner’s Engineer for the Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub, a major green hydrogen and ammonia export facility in Saudi Arabia.

The project, set to become one of the world’s largest, forms a key part of the Kingdom’s clean energy strategy under Vision 2030.

Located in Yanbu on the Red Sea, the hub will integrate the full green hydrogen value chain, including renewable power generation, desalination plants, ammonia production lines, and an export terminal.

Once operational, it will produce up to 400,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually, converted into more than 2.2 million tonnes of green ammonia for global markets. With over 4 gigawatts of electrolysis capacity planned, the facility will be nearly double the size of the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project.

In its role, Kent will act as ACWA Power’s technical representative during the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase, carried out through a Joint Venture between Técnicas Reunidas and Sinopec. The company will provide independent oversight to ensure the project is safe, efficient, and technically robust.

Kent’s responsibilities include verifying engineering design compliance with international standards, reviewing safety and constructability, managing technical interfaces across workstreams, and advising on risk and design optimisation. The team will also support ACWA Power in preparing for the transition to the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) phase.

Kent’s appointment strengthens its growing portfolio of energy transition projects in the Middle East and highlights its commitment to advancing decarbonised energy systems globally.

John Gilley, CEO at Kent said, “We are proud to be supporting ACWA Power on a project of such global significance. Our role as Owner’s Engineer allows us to bring together deep technical expertise and a long history of managing complex energy projects, helping to lay the foundations for safe, scalable and sustainable hydrogen infrastructure.”

 

Marco Arcelli, CEO of ACWA Power, said, “The Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub is a monumental step forward in realising Saudi Arabia’s green hydrogen ambitions and solidifies ACWA Power’s position as a first mover and global leader in this critical sector. This project highlights our commitment to innovation, scale, and delivering a sustainable and secure energy future. Our partnership with Kent will ensure the project benefits from world-class technical oversight as we progress towards final investment decision and construction.”