Uae unveils national hydrogen strategy

Recently, ahead of the 28th United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai, the UAE government officially released the National Hydrogen Strategy (National Hydrogen Strategy), setting the goal of becoming a global leader in hydrogen energy and proposing a number of measures to implement sustainable energy policies. And plans for more investment in hydrogen energy.

According to the strategy, by 2031, the UAE aims to reach 1.4 million tonnes of hydrogen capacity per year, including 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen and 400,000 tonnes of blue hydrogen capacity.

*2031 marks the 60th anniversary of the UAE's independence.

According to the strategy, by 2031, the UAE's domestic hydrogen consumption will reach 2.7 million tons/year and hydrogen exports will reach 600,000 tons/year.

The UAE will promote the low-carbon transformation of key industries by vigorously promoting the application of green hydrogen, and selected key transformation industries include: steel industry, chemical and fertilizer industry, transportation, aviation, aluminum products industry, refining industry, shipping industry and power grid balancing industry.

According to the UAE's carbon neutral development goal, by 2040, the country's annual green hydrogen capacity can reach 7.5 million tons; By 2050, it will reach 15 million tons per year.

Three pillars drive the development of the national hydrogen strategy:

The UAE government plans to establish a Hydrogen Oasis to promote the construction and development of the country's hydrogen energy industry chain from various aspects such as policies, platforms and talents. (2 by 2031 and 5 by 2050)

The UAE government and major enterprises will promote the cooperation and development of hydrogen industry chain including hydrogen production, hydrogen transport and hydrogen energy application through international cooperation.

The UAE will increase investment in hydrogen energy research to promote related technological progress and industrial applications.

The National Hydrogen Strategy is an important part of the UAE's National Energy Strategy 2050 and the UAE's Net Zero 2050 carbon neutrality goal, and the development of low hydrocarbon energy will also accelerate the achievement of the UAE's National energy Strategy goals.

In October 2021, the UAE announced its 2050 carbon neutrality target, becoming the first country in the MENA region to do so.

Under the target, the UAE government plans to invest AED 600 billion in the next 30 years to vigorously develop renewable energy, and low carbon energy will become an important area of investment development.

Hydrogen production, hydrogen storage (including above-ground and undersea engineering), hydrogenation, hydrogen transport, and a wide range of hydrogen application scenarios (transportation, industry, power, etc.) will bring more, new, different from the traditional industry industrial manufacturing and engineering development market opportunities.