Hossam Abdel Nabi (Dubai)
The Energy Industries Council, a global energy trade association whose membership includes more than 800 companies covering the entire supply chain in the fields of oil and gas, nuclear energy and renewable energy, stressed the importance of implementing 6 proposals in order to advance the hydrogen industry as a clean energy.
The proposals consisted of developing the infrastructure for production and distribution, creating demand at the retail level by making hydrogen fuel available at gas stations, balancing supply and demand, in addition to securing funding to support research and development efforts, and applying the system adopted by the European Commission that allows the classification of hydrogen produced. Electric grids that contain large amounts of nuclear electricity are labeled “green” and hydrogen internal combustion engines are classified as zero-emissions.
DEWA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) to develop and operate a joint integrated pilot project for the use of hydrogen in mobility, during the activities of the first day of the World Government Summit 2023.
The project includes a feasibility study for building a hydrogen fueling station, which contributes to achieving the goals of the Dubai Green Mobility Initiative 2030, which aims to stimulate the use of sustainable means of transportation, and supports the national hydrogen vehicle system, which aims to develop the hydrogen economy in the UAE and open local markets to hydrogen compounds.
The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar, has also announced its joining the Department of Energy in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways, the Lufthansa Group, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Siemens Energy and Marubeni Corporation in an initiative aimed at establishing a pilot plant project in Masdar City, to explore opportunities for developing green hydrogen and sustainable fuels and producing kerosene from electricity (e-kerosene production) for transportation, shipping and aviation purposes.
Immediate request
In detail, the Energy Industries Council called for creating immediate demand for hydrogen as clean energy, at the industrial and retail levels, by giving consumers the option of hydrogen-powered vehicles, through the possibility of refueling with hydrogen through refueling stations across the country.
The Council stressed the need to strike a balance between supply and demand in the hydrogen industry in order for the industry to flourish and contribute to national and global environmental commitments, revealing that the research and industrial talks that it conducted show that the global supply of hydrogen can exceed demand, and if this trend continues, there is a possibility that it will not be Producers have buyers, which might lead to lower hydrogen prices and long-term disruptions to the supply chain.
AIC CEO Stuart Broadley said the development of a strong hydrogen industry that helps countries achieve net-zero targets hinges on key policy changes that address issues related to hydrogen infrastructure, supply and demand dynamics, and financing needs. He added, during the participation of the Energy Industries Council, in the first official hydrogen week in the United Kingdom, that we also need to secure funding to support research and development efforts in the field of hydrogen and to deploy the infrastructure for hydrogen production and distribution, noting that by giving priority to developing the content of hydrogen projects, it is possible For the government to support local business growth, job creation, and skills building, and to ensure that the country is at the forefront of this rapidly evolving industry.
During his speech, Broadley revealed that the European Commission has adopted a system that allows hydrogen produced from electrical networks that contain large amounts of nuclear electricity to be classified as “green” if the product has a long-term contract for renewable energy commensurate with its use.
Corporate encouragement
For her part, Rebecca Groundwater, Head of External Affairs at the Energy Industries Council, emphasized that to encourage companies and investors to invest in hydrogen projects, we need a clear plan with deadlines, and we also need to classify the hydrogen internal combustion engine as a zero-emissions engine and support infrastructure. For hydrogen refueling stations to drive private investment.
Professor Joe Howe, Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Research at the University of Chester, said: “The past few years have seen a rise in the importance of hydrogen in the net-zero agenda, as it is now recognized as critical to achieving our decarbonization goals.
