UAE Accelerates Green Hydrogen Production to Achieve National Energy Goals

Under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE is reinforcing its position as a global leader in low-carbon hydrogen production. This initiative is critical to achieving the UAE’s national goals of becoming one of the world’s largest and lowest-cost producers of low-carbon hydrogen.

The UAE has a competitive edge in green hydrogen production, thanks to abundant solar energy, natural gas reservoirs suitable for blue hydrogen, solid infrastructure, and strong strategic partnerships. The country’s rapidly growing market for clean and renewable energy sources is ideal for attracting global investments.

Aligned with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, the National Hydrogen Strategy aims to integrate hydrogen as a reliable energy source. The strategy supports energy transition, encourages investment, and focuses on enhancing hydrogen generation and storage technologies. It also aims to establish regulatory frameworks to support hydrogen infrastructure development. According to the National Hydrogen Strategy, local demand for low-carbon hydrogen is expected to reach 2.7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2031. Global interest in green hydrogen as a clean, carbon-neutral fuel continues to grow, positioning it as a key element in combating global warming.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is leading the way with its Green Hydrogen project, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The project, powered by solar energy, highlights the UAE’s leadership in clean energy and supports its ambition to capture 25% of the global hydrogen market by 2030. The initiative also supports Dubai’s Green Mobility Strategy 2030, which promotes sustainable transport and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Since its inception in May 2021, the Green Hydrogen Project has produced approximately 90 tonnes of green hydrogen and has reduced carbon emissions by 490 tonnes. A significant portion of the hydrogen produced powers over 1 gigawatt-hour of green electricity and fuels 500 cars at ENOC’s Service Station of the Future at Expo 2020 Dubai. The project also operates from DEWA’s hydrogen filling plant at its Research and Development Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

The project, developed in collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai and Siemens Energy, produces 20 kilograms of hydrogen per hour, with a storage tank capable of holding up to 12 hours of hydrogen produced via solar energy. The plant features a hydrogen gas motor with 300 kilowatts of electrical energy capacity, designed for future applications in energy production, transport, and industry.

The Green Hydrogen Project aims to lower the costs associated with generating and storing green hydrogen, enhancing the efficiency of clean energy production. The project, located at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park— the world’s largest single-site solar park— plays a key role in achieving competitive pricing for green hydrogen. As the cost of producing green hydrogen is expected to decrease significantly in the coming years, experts forecast that green hydrogen could be produced for $1.60 per kilogram by 2030, making it more competitive with current production methods.

DEWA remains committed to enhancing energy security, sustainability, and efficiency while ensuring Dubai’s growing energy demand is met. By balancing economic and environmental goals, DEWA is driving sustainable development and solidifying the UAE’s position as a global leader in clean energy.