The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently revealed its National Hydrogen Strategy, a forward-looking plan aimed at fostering sustainable energy policies and significant investments in the burgeoning hydrogen industry. With the objective of becoming a prominent global hydrogen producer, the UAE is targeting the production of 1.4 million tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen annually by 2031, utilizing a mix of blue, green, and pink hydrogen technologies.
The strategy outlines a roadmap to meet optimal market conditions, projecting a domestic sectoral demand of 2.1 million tonnes per year by 2031, accompanied by an additional export potential of 0.6 million tonnes annually.
Motivated by a commitment to decarbonization, the UAE's low-carbon hydrogen production capacity could witness a substantial increase to 7.5 million tonnes per year by 2040. Furthermore, this capacity is anticipated to nearly double, reaching almost 15 million tonnes by 2050, as indicated by developers of the strategy, the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Integrated Energy Systems (CINES), and the consulting firm GHD Advisory.
A central component of the strategy involves the establishment of “hydrogen oases” — specialized hubs for hydrogen production. These oases are envisioned to play a pivotal role in catalyzing growth within the domestic hydrogen market. Simultaneously, a robust policy framework is expected to facilitate the expansion of the hydrogen industry and encourage collaboration with neighboring countries in the generation, transportation, and utilization of hydrogen.
