Siemens Energy, in conjunction with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Expo 2020 Dubai, has opened the Middle East and North Africa’s first industrial-scale solar-powered green hydrogen factory.
Located in DEWA’s Outdoor Testing Facility of the Research and Development (R&D) Centre in Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, this trailblazing Green Hydrogen Project represents a turning point in the region’s progress of the sustainable energy industry.
The integrated facility was designed to incorporate electrolysis, storage, and re-electrification capabilities in order to optimize the pilot project’s benefits. The solar park’s daylight solar energy will enable the pilot project to create around 20.5kg/hr of hydrogen at a peak power output of 1.25MWe. At Expo 2020, one of the most sustainable World Expos in history and the largest event ever staged in the Arab world, operational data from green hydrogen electrolysis will be shown.
DEWA intends to demonstrate the production of green hydrogen from solar energy, as well as the storage and re-electrification of hydrogen, through this pilot project. This is a technology that enables the buffering of renewable energy generation, both for immediate use and long-term storage. The plant was constructed to house future applications and test platforms for hydrogen’s various uses, including prospective mobility and industrial applications.
“The Green Hydrogen project is leading by example, showing how technology and collaboration can help build a cleaner, safer and healthier future for everyone. It epitomises the shared desire of Expo 2020 Dubai, DEWA, our Official Sustainable Energy Partner, and Siemens Energy to develop a global culture of innovation and deploy life-changing ideas and technologies around sustainability.
“Expo 2020 congratulates all those involved, and believes this innovative project will inspire many more creative solutions that tackle some of the greatest challenges facing our planet. In less than five months, we will celebrate these ground-breaking collaborations, showcasing the UAE’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and creating a meaningful legacy that will have a positive impact beyond the site and the six months of Expo.”
Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai
“This pioneering project which we have implemented with our strategic partner Siemens Energy is a role model for strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors. Through this pilot project DEWA aims to demonstrate the production of green hydrogen from solar power, its storage and re-electrification. This is a system that allows for buffering renewable energy production, both for fast response applications, as well as for long-term storage.
“The plant has been built to accommodate future applications and test platforms for the different uses of hydrogen, including potential mobility and industrial uses. DEWA has already explored and developed a pilot project for green mobility using hydrogen that can be executed in the near future, in addition to a number of studies, business strategies and a potential roadmap for hydrogen usage. DEWA is building know-how, experience and capabilities to contribute in shaping the clean hydrogen future of the UAE.”
His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
“This landmark Green Hydrogen Project highlights the importance of partnership in driving forward innovative new clean energy solutions and tackling the existential threat from global climate change. As the first industrial scale facility to produce green hydrogen in the Middle East and North Africa, it is an important milestone of the energy transformation. We look forward to working together to decarbonize industries that are hard to abate with renewable energy alone.”
Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy.
“We are delighted about this excellent example of cooperation between German and UAE partners and hope that this is the first of many industrial scale green hydrogen projects in the region. The German government will continue to drive cooperation on hydrogen between the UAE and Germany in the context of our bilateral Energy Partnership and expect further bilateral projects to be launched soon.”
Thomas Bareiss MdB from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which will create 5,000 megawatts of renewable energy as the world’s largest single-site solar park by 2030, will provide electricity for the Green Hydrogen Project.
Hydrogen technology will expedite the region’s renewable energy integration and deployment, paving the path for the UAE’s transition to a sustainable and green economy.
The operational expertise gained via the Green Hydrogen Project will be essential in developing sustainable and carbon-neutral solutions for a wide variety of industries, thereby promoting green economic growth for future generations.
In light of the region’s cheap electricity costs for solar PV and wind power, hydrogen has the potential to become a critical fuel in the future energy mix, potentially opening up energy export prospects for locations with rich renewable energy sources.
