Hydrogen

The International Association CEDIGAZ has just released its National Hydrogen Market Review “Oman aims to become a leading green hydrogen hub”, which provides key information on Oman Hydrogen Strategy as well as market and project developments on both the demand and supply sides. It emphasizes that Oman is well positioned to become a leading green hydrogen exporter.

Oman is one of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries that have committed to net zero emissions by 2050. In addition, Oman is preparing policies to accelerate projects and plans for the transition to green energy. Green hydrogen presents itself as a key vector that enables Oman to pursue its decarbonization, economic and energy security objectives. In October 2022, the Minister of Energy and Minerals announced Oman’s new climate commitment and ambitious green hydrogen strategy. Today, the country aims to produce 1-1.5 million tons of green hydrogen per year by 2030 and increase green hydrogen production to at least 3.75 million tons per year by 2040 and 8.5 million tons per year by 2050. This would require an electrolysis capacity of 8-15 GW by 2030 and around 100 GW by 2050. To reach its production target by 2050, a cumulative investment of $140 billion is required by this horizon. The hydrogen produced will mainly meet both local and international industrial needs, involving the implementation of large-scale export projects targeting Europe and Asia. Bilateral partnership deals have already been signed with Belgium and the Netherlands for the production and exports of hydrogen to the EU.

The International Association Cedigaz has just released its Hydrogen Market Review: “Spain to become the green hydrogen powerhouse of Europe”, which assesses market developments, policies and prospects of the hydrogen industry in Spain. The report also provides data on Spain’s green hydrogen production projects.

 Spain wants to become the European renewable hydrogen hub of Europe. The country holds key assets to realize this ambition, with its abundant sun and wind resources, allowing the cheapest cost of renewable hydrogen in Europe; its vast area available to build renewable power capacity; its well-developed natural gas infrastructure; its ports on key shipping routes; and its industrial asset base and capabilities to adapt a new economy.

Spain adopted a hydrogen roadmap in 2020 to facilitate the deployment and use of hydrogen as a key energy vector for the future. The strategy focuses on renewable hydrogen exclusively. It set the goal of installing 4 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030, a goal that the government has proposed to increase to 11 GW by 2030 in its draft update of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan of June 2023. The focus of the roadmap was mainly on the creation of hydrogen clusters across the country to: i) decarbonise hard-to-abate industries and heavy mobility; ii) stimulate domestic economic activity and revitalize local economies in the Just Transition regions; and iii) become a technological leader in the value chain. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the EU’s ambitious hydrogen vision, the external orientation of Spain’s hydrogen policy has become increasingly prominent. Spain has strengthened its decarbonisation commitment and significantly increased the contribution of renewables, including renewable hydrogen.