Dubai: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) have signed a trilateral agreement.
This collaboration aims to accelerate the hydrogen economy in Abu Dhabi and position the UAE as a global leader in the production and export of low-carbon hydrogen.
The agreement was signed during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai by Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Al Rumaithi, Under-Secretary of DoE, Mr. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, and Mr. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar Chief Executive Officer.
This announcement comes after Abu Dhabi’s recently launched Low-Carbon Hydrogen Policy, which creates a framework to accelerate production on a much larger scale.
Mr. Al Rumaithi stated that, “In affirming our commitment to the advancement of a sustainable energy future, I emphasize that sustainable hydrogen is integral to the Abu Dhabi energy transition, playing a vital role in realizing the UAE’s net-zero strategy. Low-carbon hydrogen, a promising technology, stands as a cornerstone for the development of a sustainable industrial sector in the Emirates, fostering economic growth, adding substantial value, and generating quality jobs. The Department of Energy’s policy is pivotal to shaping the course of hydrogen development, contributing significantly to the economic abundance and prosperity of Abu Dhabi.”
By connecting production centers, off-takers, and H2 storage across the UAE, the collaboration provides a landmark opportunity to deploy shared hydrogen infrastructure. This generates economies of scale and creates a world-class production and export hub for clean hydrogen and its derivatives, enabling further decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors.
Mr. Al-Olama commented that, “The Abu Dhabi ecosystem is working in unison to support the global transition to a net-zero future. This collaboration between DoE, Masdar, and ADIO will be a catalyst for the UAE to become one of the world’s foremost producers of clean hydrogen, marking a significant step in the development of sustainable energy in the UAE and globally.”
Mr. Al Ramahi remarked that, “This important stride forward in Abu Dhabi’s green hydrogen funding and investment initiatives is bringing to life the UAE’s National Hydrogen Strategy, as well as positioning Abu Dhabi as the leading global hub for the production and export of low-carbon hydrogen at scale. Masdar is playing its part through the development and deployment of green hydrogen, targeting 1 million tons per year.”