The Green Hydrogen Project Supports DEWA’s Net Zero Efforts
Dubai, UAE: The global push towards net zero is accelerating, driving up the demand for clean and renewable energy sources. In this context, the hydrogen industry is poised for significant growth, offering unprecedented opportunities to contribute to a more sustainable planet. Green hydrogen, in particular, has the potential to decarbonise various sectors.
Numerous pioneering innovations are emerging in hydrogen technology, especially in the electrolysis of water to produce green hydrogen using renewable energy.
Additionally, advancements in producing hydrogen from biomass and waste, as well as new methods for generating hydrogen from natural gas with low carbon emissions, align with the global shift towards clean and renewable energy sources like solar and hydroelectric power.
Challenges Facing Hydrogen Production
Today’s hydrogen production faces major challenges, including cost competitiveness. Hydrogen production from renewable sources is generally more expensive than traditional fossil fuel-based methods.
Some technologies, such as advanced electrolysis or biomass pyrolysis, are still in the research and development stage and require further technological progress to become scalable for large-scale commercial use.
Recent international reports suggest that green hydrogen could be produced for $1.60 per kilogram by 2030, making it more competitive with current methods, which cost between $3 and $6.5 per kilogram.
In terms of storage, advanced technologies like hydrogen liquefaction, salt cavern storage, and innovative solid hydrogen storage materials are being developed to ensure efficient and reliable hydrogen storage.
These advancements are crucial for the widespread adoption of green hydrogen as an energy carrier. Significant investments and technological advances are driving its rapid development and deployment.
The Green Hydrogen Project in Dubai
The Green Hydrogen project by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to produce hydrogen using solar power.
The hydrogen gas tank can store up to 12 hours of hydrogen produced from solar power. Since its launch in May 2021, the facility has met its production goals, producing approximately 20 kilograms per hour of high-purity green hydrogen.
The project, which primarily uses electrolysis of water with renewable energy, will support future applications and testing platforms for various hydrogen uses, including energy production and mobility. This aligns with the phased implementation of the Hydrogen Strategy roadmap.
The project supports the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, aiming to provide 100% of energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. DEWA plays a leading role in this ambition through pioneering clean and renewable energy projects.
Notably, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the world’s largest single-site solar park based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, has a planned production capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030.
With total investments of AED 50 billion, its current production capacity is 2,860 MW. DEWA won the Hydrogen Project of the Year 2023 Award for its green hydrogen project at the Hydrogen Future Awards 2023, part of the ‘Connecting Green Hydrogen MENA’ (CGHM2023) conference in Dubai.
