Industry leaders meet in Abu Dhabi to discuss green hydrogen ahead of COP28

The UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology assembled energy leaders in Abu Dhabi to address the major challenges in the adoption of green hydrogen and the growth of its attendant economy.

The dialogue session took place during the UAE Climate Tech forum, which ran from May 10-11 in preparation for COP28, the Emirates News Agency reported.

The forum brought together 1,000 global policymakers, CEOs, experts, technology leaders, and investors to help accelerate decarbonization through innovative technologies and economic prospects.

During the dialogue, which was called “Hydrogen Economy: The Unanswered Questions,” those attending discussed the main challenges across the hydrogen value chain, such as production, storage, transportation, and application, as well as the technological advancements required to unlock the resultant economy.

Today at the #UAEClimateTech forum, I spoke about the critical role of integrating technology across the entire value chain of production to accelerate decarbonization and achieve our Net Zero targets. pic.twitter.com/QGDqGUWXH7

— Sarah Al Amiri (@SarahAmiri1) May 11, 2023

The importance of hydrogen in the energy transition was also discussed, with participants debating technologies, policies, and guidelines. Talks also focused on different types of hydrogen production.

Delegates were told that clean hydrogen production fueled by renewable energy and employing carbon capture technologies would eventually gain market share.

Sarah Al Amiri, minister of state for public education and advanced technology, said: “Hydrogen is one of the key fuels that will power the energy transition and help us to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

“But there are multiple challenges across the entire hydrogen value chain that we must address.

“The UAE is positioning itself as a global leader in hydrogen technology as part of its economic and energy diversification strategies, and we understand the importance of working with partners to unlock the full potential of this high-growth sector.

“We are committed to working with international partners and fostering collaborations among public and private sector stakeholders, locally and globally, to break down the barriers to the hydrogen economy in line with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.

“Under this commitment, we have introduced initiatives such as the Technology Transformation Program and the Emirates Research and Development Council to stimulate the development of enabling technologies that will help scale hydrogen technology.

“These initiatives will boost R&D expenditure, promote international collaboration in innovation, and accelerate the required technological advancements. We recognize that platforms like UAE Climate Tech are also vital to an inclusive and collective global energy transition.

“We will continue providing these platforms to supplement our investments in renewable and low-carbon energy sources, in line with the Paris Agreement, and to help boost sustainable economic growth.”

The delegates also addressed policies and incentives, including the role of policymakers and the importance of collaboration and innovation. A whitepaper based on the session and featuring recommendations will be published ahead of COP28.

The UAE aims to capture 25 percent of the worldwide hydrogen fuel market by 2030 as part of its energy-mix and economic diversification plans.

The country will invest AED 600 billion ($163.37 billion) in clean and renewable energy projects over the next three decades.