Oman is advancing its green hydrogen strategy by integrating it with a comprehensive industrial ecosystem that encompasses renewable energy generation, storage, green manufacturing, and export capabilities. This shift focuses on moving from setting energy transition targets to implementing commercially viable projects, officials said at the 5th Salalah Engineering Forum on September 1.
Eng Abdulaziz al Shidhani, Managing Director of Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom), detailed the emerging framework during his keynote address. The model centers on connecting solar and wind power generation with battery storage solutions to address the intermittency challenges of renewable energy, providing stable and reliable electricity needed for industrial applications. This approach is intended to reduce dependence on conventional backup generation and enable continuous power supply, critical for sectors that require steady electricity rather than variable output tied to weather conditions.
Hydrom envisions green hydrogen playing a key role as a decarbonization tool in industries where direct electrification is challenging. These industries include iron and steel production, fertilizer manufacturing, petrochemicals, and heavy transport sectors such as maritime shipping and aviation. Beyond hydrogen itself, green ammonia and synthetic fuels—or e-fuels—were identified as important downstream products that can add value and position Oman as a supplier of low-carbon industrial commodities in international markets.
The strategy leverages Oman’s geographic advantages and established infrastructure across economic and industrial zones including Al Duqm, Salalah, and Suhar. These areas form part of an integrated network linking renewable energy production, processing facilities, logistics hubs, and export routes.
Hydrom highlighted priorities for this phase of the transition, which include developing frameworks to share technological and market risks, enhancing national project management capacities, deploying engineering solutions across transportation and manufacturing sectors, and accelerating digital transformation initiatives. The emergence of smart grids, data centers, and digital automation are seen as crucial to managing increasingly integrated and technology-driven energy systems.
The presentation coincides with a more implementation-oriented phase of Oman’s green hydrogen efforts. According to recent data from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, seven green hydrogen projects are underway with a combined targeted capacity of one million tonnes annually by 2030. This follows the termination of two earlier projects due to market shifts. The ministry estimates planned investments linked to the first two hydrogen auction rounds at over $44 billion, with renewable energy capacity supporting hydrogen production expected to reach approximately 26.6 gigawatts by 2030.
Hydrom’s outlined approach underscores the broader challenge of transforming Oman’s substantial renewable resources and hydrogen projects into a cohesive industrial system that delivers economic value beyond hydrogen production alone.
The 5th Salalah Engineering Forum runs through September 2 under the theme “Energy Transition Engineering: Applied Innovations for Resilient Clean Energy Infrastructure,” and is organized by the Oman Society of Engineers in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.