PROJECTS: Dubai achieves a MENA-first with green hydrogen project

PROJECTS: Dubai achieves a MENA-first with green hydrogen project

Dubai formally inaugurated on Wednesday the first solar-driven green hydrogen producing facility in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The ($11 million) pilot project is a joint initiative between Siemens Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Expo 2020 Dubai. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee inaugurated the project, which is located at the Outdoor Testing Facility of DEWA’s Research and Development (R&D) Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. Daylight solar power from the solar park will enable the pilot project to produce around 20.5kg/hr of hydrogen at 1.25MWe of peak power, Siemens Energy said in a press statement. It said the system integrates [solar-powered] electrolysis [to produce green hydrogen], storage [of hydrogen], and re-electrification capabilities. “The plant has been built to accommodate future applications and test platforms for the different uses of hydrogen, including potential mobility and industrial uses,” it said. DEWA MD & CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said in a statement that the project supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to provide 75 percent of total power capacity from clean