GHD and Fraunhofer CINES have been commissioned by the UAE government to deliver a comprehensive National Hydrogen Strategy
The two companies will work in tandem with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI), to support the UAE’s vision to become a leading global producer of low-carbon hydrogen by its 60th anniversary in 2031.
Endorsed by MOEI, the strategy will be a fact-based analysis that evaluates the opportunities and challenges associated with establishing a hydrogen-based economy in the UAE. It will study the country’s natural gas reserves, high solar radiance, and its favourable position as a global energy and business hub.
To ensure the accuracy of the data on hydrogen production and domestic forecasted targets, the partnership utilised Fraunhofer's technical parameters from its HYPAT (Hydrogen Potential Atlas project), as well as extensive research from primary and secondary literature sources.
According to the MOEI, by 2031, the strategy aims to produce 1.4 million tonnes per year of low-emission hydrogen, with 71.4% being green hydrogen. The long-term target is to increase production to 15 million tonnes per year by 2050. The strategy also focuses on creating thousands of new green jobs by 2031 and expanding the hydrogen infrastructure through the establishment of two hydrogen hubs.
A hydrogen research and development centre will be set up by 2031, with the vision of becoming a globally recognised innovation centre by 2050. The next milestone is the development of a Low Carbon Hydrogen policy.
Sharif Al Olama, MOEI’s under secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs said, "Hydrogen has the potential to play an important role in the UAE's transition to a low-carbon economy. We are committed to implementing the National Hydrogen Strategy to unlock opportunities and benefits and achieve our net-zero target.”
Thomas Evans, executive advisor at GHD said, " GHD is committed to unlocking sustainable pathways to net-zero, and developing a hydrogen economy is a critical part of the broader decarbonisation puzzle."
Jan Frederik Braun, head of Hydrogen Cooperation (MENA Region) at Fraunhofer CINES said, "This hydrogen strategy, which has been developed together with all key hydrogen and energy stakeholders in the UAE considers all aspects of the hydrogen value chain: Production, distribution and usage."
