The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a comprehensive energy strategy aimed at increasing hydrogen production to 15 million tons per year by 2050. UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazroui made the announcement during a presentation of the strategy held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
"The UAE intends to produce 1.4 million tons of hydrogen annually by 2031, with plans to scale up production to 15 million tons per year by 2050. A significant portion of the produced hydrogen will be derived from green and low-carbon sources," Minister Al Mazroui said.
To achieve this ambitious target, the UAE envisions the establishment of multiple "hydrogen oases" along with a national research and development center dedicated to hydrogen applications. Al Mazroui emphasized that this strategic initiative will contribute to raising the share of clean energy in the UAE's energy mix to 32 percent by 2030, 38 percent by 2035, and ultimately achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050. He further highlighted the importance of this plan in fulfilling the UAE's pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and driving the global adoption of a hydrogen-based economy.
In line with their vision, the UAE plans to allocate an estimated investment of 150 billion to 200 billion dirhams ($40.84 billion to $54.5 billion) in the energy sector over the next seven years. This significant financial commitment aims to support sustainable economic development while effectively addressing the increasing energy demands. A substantial portion of this investment will be directed towards renewable energy projects, which Al Mazroui expects "will create a minimum of 50,000 green jobs by 2030."
The UAE's previous energy strategy, adopted in 2017, had set the goal of increasing the proportion of clean energy in the country's energy mix from 25% to 50% and reducing the carbon footprint of electricity generation by 70% by 2050. Moreover, it aimed to establish an energy landscape that embraces diverse sources, including nuclear power.
In 2021, the UAE introduced the Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative, aiming to transform the nation into a carbon-neutral entity by 2050. This initiative centers on the widespread adoption of clean and sustainable energy sources. As of December 2022, the UAE has already invested over $40 billion in green energy projects over a span of 15 years. Additionally, the upcoming 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) is scheduled to take place in Dubai from November 30 to December 12.
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Based on materials from TASS