Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Expo 2020 Dubai and Siemens have broken ground on a joint project that will become the Middle East and North Africa’s first solar-based hydrogen electrolysis facility.
The facility is located at DEWA’s outdoor testing facilities in the Research and Development Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. Expo 2020 Dubai will also be demonstrating hydrogen mobility by powering a number of fuel-cell vehicles with the hydrogen generated at the facility.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said: “The Green Hydrogen project is part of our efforts to support the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote sustainability and innovation, and lead the transformation towards a greener economy. This pilot project is the first of its kind in the MENA region to produce hydrogen using clean energy. It supports DEWA’s efforts in innovation, research, and development in energy storage and sustainability, which is one of the themes of Expo 2020 Dubai. The project also supports DEWA’s efforts to contribute to hosting one of the most sustainable World Expos in history in line with DEWA’s role as Expo 2020’s Official Sustainable Energy Partner.
“This pioneering project is a role model for strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors. It will contribute to developing the green economy concept in the UAE and explore the potential of green hydrogen technology. The hydrogen produced at the facility will be stored and deployed for re-electrification, transportation and other uses,” added Al Tayer.
Joe Kaeser, president and CEO of Siemens AG, said: “Along with our partners DEWA and Expo 2020 Dubai, we made the commitment less than a year ago to bring green hydrogen to Dubai. Siemens has pioneered this space globally, generating green hydrogen from renewable energy using Proton Exchange Membrane electrolysis. This project will be an important contribution to the evolving energy mix in Dubai and the UAE.”
