The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) of Germany recently joined forces under the Emirati-German Energy and Climate Partnership.
Together, they organized a significant industry workshop focusing on hydrogen strategies and carbon markets. The workshop, a collaborative effort with the AHK Sustainability Series and Guidehouse, aimed to facilitate a fruitful exchange of expertise and ideas between the two nations, propelling them toward a sustainable energy future.
Distinguished experts from both the UAE and Germany converged at this workshop, presenting comprehensive insights into their respective national hydrogen strategies. Beyond this, the event delved into key topics, including the outlook for carbon trading in the UAE, voluntary carbon markets, and an interactive panel discussion dedicated to shaping the UAE carbon market.
The importance of this initiative was underscored by the presence of Christoph Klarmann, Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in the UAE, and Oliver Oehms, CEO of the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce (AHK). They were joined by stakeholders from influential entities such as the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, and prominent industry players like BASF, Krohne, and ACX.
Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, highlighted the shared commitment between the UAE and Germany to sustainable development and innovation. He emphasized the workshop’s role in fostering expertise exchange and exploring synergies in the domains of hydrogen and carbon trading. Al Olama pointed out Germany’s position as a global technology leader and its pivotal role in the UAE’s transition to clean energy, a testament to the collaborative spirit of the Emirati-German Energy and Climate Partnership.
He further elaborated on the UAE’s ambitious National Hydrogen Strategy, a forward-looking plan aimed at establishing the UAE as a prominent producer and supplier of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031. The strategy sets ambitious targets, including the production of 1.4 million metric tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen annually by 2031, with a staggering tenfold increase to 15 million tonnes by 2050. This visionary roadmap not only focuses on economic growth but also envisions thousands of jobs in the hydrogen sector by 2050. Additionally, it seeks to reduce emissions by 25 percent in challenging sectors like heavy industries, land transport, aviation, and sea freight by 2031.
Anne Jacobs-Schleithoff, Head of Division, North Africa and Near and Middle East at BMWK, commended the UAE for finalizing its National Hydrogen Strategy and acknowledged Germany’s role in supporting its development. She recognized the potential for bilateral trade growth driven by the burgeoning hydrogen market, which will serve as a catalyst for sustainable economic expansion.
Highlighting the urgency of action, particularly in the context of the upcoming COP28, she underscored the Emirati-German Energy and Climate Partnership’s commitment to effective climate protection measures. The partnership, which promotes high-level political dialogue, facilitates communication between public and private stakeholders and encourages the exchange of best practices, is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the energy transition in both the UAE and Germany.
