Masdar expands renewables footprint to Jordan and Europe

UAE company Masdar has expanded its renewables footprint to Jordan, while exploring the development of a green hydrogen supply chain from Abu Dhabi to Europe.

The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai.

Masdar signed a joint development agreement with the Jordanian energy and mineral resources ministry to develop a 1 gigawatt wind project with a battery energy storage system.

They also signed a memorandum to explore the feasibility of establishing a green hydrogen plant near the Port of Aqaba to produce the “most cost-competitive” hydrogen, utilising desalinated seawater and renewable power.

“Jordan has the potential to become a global powerhouse in the green energy transition,” Masdar CEO Mohamed Al Ramahi said.

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The UAE company already has a presence in Jordan through its Baynouna Solar Energy Company joint venture with Finland’s Taaleri, which inaugurated the 200 MW Baynouna Solar Park earlier this year.

Masdar has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Amsterdam, SkyNRG, Evos Amsterdam and Zenith Energy Terminals to explore the development of a green hydrogen supply chain between Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam.

“The UAE aims to play a central role in the emerging green hydrogen economy and this partnership with the Port of Amsterdam and associated players in the green hydrogen space would help position Abu Dhabi as a key hub for green hydrogen development,” Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 president and chairman of Masdar said.

Under the MoU, the parties will develop a green hydrogen supply chain, focusing on production in Abu Dhabi and export to the Netherlands.

The exported green hydrogen will be delivered to key European sectors such as sustainable aviation fuel, steelmaking, and bunkering for shipping. It will also be supplied to new, emerging European offtakers via pipeline, truck and barge.

The parties will further explore several hydrogen transportation methods, focusing on liquid organic hydrogen carriers and liquid hydrogen.

Global consultancy PwC has estimated that hydrogen demand could be between 150 to 500 million metric tonnes annually by 2050.

The hydrogen rainbow

• Green hydrogen is produced on a carbon-neutral basis through water electrolysis. 
• Turquoise hydrogen is created when natural gas is broken down into hydrogen and solid carbon with the help of methane pyrolysis.
• Blue hydrogen is generated from the steam reduction of natural gas. 
• Grey hydrogen is obtained by steam reforming fossil fuels such as natural gas or coal. 
• Sometimes other colours are ascribed to hydrogen, based on how it is produced. For red, pink and violet hydrogen, the electrolysers are driven by nuclear power. 
• Yellow hydrogen is hydrogen produced from a mixture of renewable energies and fossil fuels. 
• White hydrogen is a waste product of other chemical processes, while the use of coal as a fuel produces brown hydrogen.