First commercial-scale waste-to- hydrogen plant in ME to be built

On the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, BEEAH, has revealed comprehensive plans for the Middle East’s first commercial-scale, waste-to-hydrogen plant to be located in Al Sajaa, Sharjah.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and international technology partners Chinook Hydrogen from the UK and Air Water from Japan, the plant is expected to unlock a revolutionary new avenue for the production and application of green hydrogen for emissions-free energy production and hydrogen-fuelled mobility.

The plant will leverage Chinook Hydrogen’s patented RODECS gasification and pyrolysis solution and Air Water Inc.’s cutting-edge hydrogen refinement technology, producing fuel-cell grade hydrogen from various organic-based, including Municipal Solid Waste (MSW).

The resulting green hydrogen can be readily used in energy and industrial applications. The first phase is expected to be commissioned in Q2 of 2027, producing 7 tonnes of green hydrogen daily, amounting to an annual production capacity of 2,560 tonnes. In the process, the plant will also divert thousands of tonnes of waste every year, while preventing around 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to green hydrogen, the plant will also produce useful by-products such as biogenic carbon dioxide, which can support the production of alternative fuels, and nitrogen, a valuable gas for an array of industrial applications.

The breakthrough technology was first demonstrated in 2023 at a demonstration plant in Nottingham, United Kingdom, and then presented at COP28 UAE at the national pavilion in the presence of Eng Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI.

Commenting on the development, Eng Sharif Al Olama said: “Energy diversification and hydrogen leadership are important priorities for our Ministry as part of the UAE Centennial Plan 2071 and the National Hydrogen Strategy. We welcome BEEAH and Chinook Hydrogen’s progress following the presentation at COP28 and look forward to future collaborations on this commercial-scale waste-to-hydrogen plant.”

“The project’s innovative process for green hydrogen production from waste has potential to significantly contribute to national priorities such as reducing reliance on fossil fuels and emerging as one of the global leaders in hydrogen production.”

The waste-to-hydrogen technology that will be used in the plant has been independently verified by international consultants and has received a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 6 and 7, indicating its readiness to be demonstrated in operational environments and larger-scale deployment.

Following the first phase, BEEAH, Chinook Hydrogen and Air Water Inc. are planning to scale the plant and increase production capacity to 20 tonnes of green hydrogen per day.

Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO and Vice Chairman, BEEAH, commented on the importance of the waste-to-hydrogen plant: “We are proud to collaborate with MoEI our international technology partners Chinook Hydrogen and Air Water Inc. to realise the Middle East’s first commercial-scale waste-to-hydrogen plant.”

“The plant will help us tackle the challenge of emissions on multiple fronts: unlocking the opportunity of emissions-free fuel for hard-to-abate sectors, supporting hydrogen-fuelled mobility, and increasing diversion rates of hard-to-recycle waste and thereby eliminating the associated landfill emissions. Our trials in Nottingham, UK, and the presentation at COP28 UAE demonstrated a breakthrough technology for hydrogen production.”

“Now, we will be applying this at scale for the local context, contributing to the UAE’s net-zero strategy and hydrogen leadership ambitions.”

Aligning with the National Hydrogen Strategy, the UAE aims to become one of the world’s leading hydrogen production hubs by 2031.

BEEAH is continuing to explore ways to contribute to the national hydrogen ambition, from the first successful demonstration in the plant in Nottingham, UK, and presentation at the UAE Pavilion at COP28, to developing the commercial-scale plant in Sharjah along with its international partners.

Dr. Rifat Chalabi, Group Chairman, and CEO of Chinook Hydrogen, commented: “Through intensive research and development, Chinook has developed a proven cost competitive, negative carbon intensity hydrogen production technology using its patented commercially proven state-of-the-art RODECS technology.”

“The green hydrogen produced combines low-cost hydrogen production with a negative carbon footprint, which continues to be the primary objective for the hydrogen industry.

Chinook, BEEAH, and its partners have assembled an experienced team to ensure the successful delivery of this first of its kind groundbreaking facility.”