ADNOC To Launch High-Speed Hydrogen Refueling Station

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the state-owned oil company of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), announced on Tuesday that it has started constructing the Middle East's first high-speed hydrogen refueling station in Masdar City.

ADNOC will be using water to create hydrogen and this process will utilize an electrolyser powered by clean grid electricity. The benefit of using hydrogen is that it causes no carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the refueling time is also reduced compared to battery electric vehicles.

This high-speed hydrogen refueling station will be tested in collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Al-Futtaim Motors.

ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who also serves as Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, noted that the need to reduce carbon emissions to solve climate change issues is urgent and clear.

"ADNOC is placing sustainability and decarbonization at the heart of its strategy and, while we decarbonize our operations today, we are making robust investments to be a supplier of choice for the clean energies of tomorrow," the minister said, WAM reported.

The minister said that hydrogen will play a critical role, helping to "helping to decarbonize economies at scale," adding that it is a natural extension of ADNOC's core business.

"Through this pilot programme, we will gather important data on how hydrogen transportation technology performs as we continue to develop the UAE's hydrogen infrastructure," he added.

Toyota and Al Futtaim Motors partnership will help ADNOC with a fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles while this pilot programme will help the state-owned oil company to learn how hydrogen with high-speed refueling can be utilized in the best way in mobility projects to support the UAE's National Hydrogen Strategy.

The UAE's National Hydrogen Strategy is aiming towards making the country one of the largest producers of hydrogen by 2031. UAE is focusing on clean energies and incentivizing decarbonization.

Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, disclosed during a cabinet meeting held earlier this month that the country has adopted a national strategy for hydrogen, which will help to generate clean energy.

"The plan aims to consolidate the country's position as a producer and exporter of low-emission hydrogen over the next eight years by developing supply chains and establishing hydrogen oases to develop this industry, in addition to establishing a specialized national center for research and development of the promising hydrogen sector," Sheikh Mohammed shared via Twitter.

ADNOC's managing director, who also serves as COP28 President-Designate, attended London Climate Action Week last month, and expressed his willingness to collaborate with the UK Government on policies that would help to increase climate investments and develop holistic ecosystems.

Dr. Al Jaber noted that if emissions are cut by 43 percent in the next seven years, then a holistic ecosystem is required that connects policy, technology, finance, and people.