Gastech 2021 adds 1st hydrogen zone to discuss & develop net-zero energy

By Arya M Nair, Official Reporter
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Gastech, the world’s leading gas, LNG, hydrogen, and energy event, has added a dedicated hydrogen zone, Gastech Hydrogen, for the first time this year. 

The event is focused on the global hydrogen vision to help meeting decarbonization goals and, make progress towards net-zero energy commitments.

The hydrogen zone, co-located with Gastech 2021, is a series of dedicated conference sessions held on September 22nd, focused on the potential of hydrogen in creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, as well as for GCC hydrocarbon producers to reduce methane emissions and lead to the development of the hydrogen economy.

In addition to the conference sessions, a high-level ministerial panels from leading energy markets has spoken at the opening of the event on September 21st, emphasizing the measures that policymakers should follow to ensure the rapid expansion of the hydrogen supply chain, as well as what impact the regulations will have on promoting green and blue hydrogen.

During the conference, the GCC emphasized how hydrogen offers Gulf energy producers a global chance to transform their business practices and lead the transition to Net-Zero energy. Although scaling up projects, infrastructure, and end-user accessibility will be challenging, once carried out successfully, the green and blue hydrogen production will offer a unique opportunity to meet climate goals and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

The focus of the Gastech Hydrogen Zone discussions on September 23rd, the last day of the event, will switch to what must happen by 2030 if hydrogen is to overcome existing barriers to wide-scale adoption and achieve the vision of the hydrogen economy.

Substantial natural gas reserves in the Gulf region are being considered as a potential source of hydrogen. Megaprojects to expand the UAE’s hydrogen economy are already in progress, including a two-gigawatt green ammonia project by Taqa, the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, and Abu Dhabi Ports, which will use green hydrogen as a feedstock to produce liquid ammonia to use as bunker fuel and export in ships.

Meanwhile, the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) has announced plans for a $1 billion green ammonia plant, which will produce 200,000 tons of green ammonia from 40,000 tons of green hydrogen. In addition, Masdar has partnered with Siemens Energy, the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Marubeni Corporation and Khalifa University to develop an electrolysis facility to produce green hydrogen for the transport industry.

In Ruwais, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) with Mubadala and ADQ is developing an ammonia project, using blue hydrogen, derived from methane, as a feedstock, at its downstream industrial hub, TA’ZIZ.

Oman has also announced a $31 billion green hydrogen factory to be built in the Al Wusta governorate and Saudi Arabia plans to invest $5 billion in the futuristic city Neon to produce green hydrogen from both wind and solar-powered electrolysis by 2025.

The Gastech is taking place around five streams and, they are Hydrogen, Marine, EPC and Project, Processing and AI and Technology. The program is providing multiple opportunities for working professionals to learn from over 300 of the world’s leading energy engineers as they present the latest technological breakthroughs and market opportunities for the industry.

Related: Gastech to convene on 21st September with over 15,000 global industry leaders

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