Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau have signed a memorandum of understanding to kick start a pilot project for the region’s first solar-driven hydrogen electrolysis facility.
The facility, which will be located at DEWA’s outdoor testing facilities at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, aims to test and showcase an integrated MW-scale plant to produce hydrogen using renewable energy. By collecting this from solar photovoltaic plates at the Solar Park, the facility will then store the gas and deploy it for either re-electrification, transportation or other industrial uses.
DEWA and Expo 2020 Dubai intend to use fuel-cell vehicles powered by the green hydrogen generated at the facility. Visitors of Expo 2020 Dubai will be able to visit the key facilities at the Solar Park, and live data from the green hydrogen electrolysis will be displayed at the Expo site.
HE Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens, signed the agreement.
“This project will not only result in the development of the region’s first solar-driven hydrogen electrolysis facility, but is an example of what can be achieved through collaboration between Expo 2020 Dubai and our partners, truly embodying the Expo theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’,” said Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy. “Expo 2020 Dubai will be a celebration of creativity and innovation, providing a platform for new sustainable technologies like this to be presented to a global audience of millions, and help us move towards a cleaner, greener future.”
“The MoU is in line with the vision of Sheikh Mohammed to increase the share of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy sources to 75% by 2050 through the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. The MoU also supports Expo 2020 Dubai’s themes to promote sustainability and innovation and DEWA’s efforts to contribute to hosting the best edition of Expo in Dubai. This is part of our partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai, as the official sustainable energy partner,” said Al Tayer.
