Live updates: Follow the latest news on Cop28
A series of hydrogen initiatives were announced at the Cop28 climate conference on Tuesday, aimed at boosting the production and trade of the low-carbon fuel.
More than 30 countries, representing about 80 per cent of the future global market in hydrogen, signed a declaration of intent, under which states have agreed to endorse a global certification standard for hydrogen and to recognise existing certification schemes.
The countries also signed a public-private action statement on hydrogen, which will focus on accelerating permissions for hydrogen projects and creating more demand for the commodity.
“The biggest challenge in decarbonisation is providing [an] alternative fuel that is clean and available at scale at the right price,” Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, told delegates during a hydrogen roundtable at the summit.
“The consumer is going to be the judge of how good a work we are doing in helping to ensure that it's affordable. If it's not affordable, no matter what we do, it's not going to have the success that we aspire for.”
Hydrogen, which can be produced using both renewable energy and natural gas, is expected to be a critical fuel of the future, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as steel manufacturing and shipping.
Its ability to efficiently store energy makes it appealing for renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, both of which are naturally intermittent.
After being produced, a certification system enables end users and governments to determine the source and quality of the hydrogen.
However, current hydrogen certification systems are not suitable for cross-border trade due to gaps in design, standards and labelling, leading to insufficient information about the product as far as potential buyers are concerned.
Hydrogen, and particularly, green hydrogen, is currently more expensive than natural gas due to lack of production and supply constraints.
Most of it is due to a shortage of electrolysers – devices that use electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
However, there is more than 400 gigawatts of electrolysis capacity that could be operational by 2030, compared with only 1 gigawatt currently, according to an International Energy Agency official.
“There is a reality check here, which is, at the moment, only 3 per cent of those have reached the stage of taking a final investment decision,” said Dan Dorner, head of Strategic Initiatives Office at the agency.
“International co-operations are therefore absolutely of paramount importance to overcome barriers that are preventing a faster adoption of low emissions hydrogen.”
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Delegates on the 11th day of the Cop28 summit at Expo City Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Cop28 is scheduled to conclude at 11am on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National -
Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, addresses a press conference on agriculture on the 11th day of Cop28 in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Activists called for a ceasefire in Gaza and measures to protect the climate on the 10th day of the summit. Pawan Singh / The National -
Visitors walk in the Green Zone, in Expo City Dubai’s Sustainability District. Pawan Singh / The National -
Models take part in the Sustainable Fashion Show held on the seventh day of the summit at Al Wasl Plaza. Pawan Singh / The National -
The summit heard from indigenous peoples, many of whom inhabit island nations and contribute the least to greenhouse emissions. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
UN climate change executive secretary Simon Stiell speaks to the media on the 12th day of Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
About 70,000 participants are attending the two-week event. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The last two scheduled days of the summit have been left clear for final negotiations. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
The Wake Up experience with Sadhguru, on the sixth day of Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Activists from youth organisation Engajamundo stage a protest about smog caused by deforestation in the Amazon. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Lights shine from Al Wasl Dome at Expo City Dubai. AP -
Delegates arrive for a meeting at the Cop28 summit. AP -
Cop28 attendees visit British artist Michael Pinsky's Pollution Pods, which replicate the air quality in Beijing, London and New Delhi, at Expo City in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Delegates on the 10th day of the Cop28 UAE at the Expo City in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Cop27 President Sameh Shoukry, left, hands over the gavel to Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber at the UN climate conference's opening ceremony. AFP -
World leaders on day two of Cop28 in Dubai. Reuters -
From left, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrive for a group photo. AFP -
King Charles III with King Abdullah II of Jordan during the opening ceremony of the World Climate Action Summit at Cop28. PA -
Pope Francis records a video message to be broadcast during the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion, at Casa Santa Marta, in the Vatican. Reuters -
Al Gore, environmentalist and former US vice president, presents the Climate Trace global greenhouse gases emissions database on day four of Cop28. Getty Images -
Visitors in the Green Zone at Expo City Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Tanzanian President Samia Hassan and Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, attend the Reaching the Last Mile Forum held alongside Cop28. Reuters -
Joseph Vipond from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment crosses the Blue Zone. Getty Images -
Participants walk among flagpoles on day four of the Cop28 summit in Dubai. Getty Images -
President Sheikh Mohamed and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres hold a meeting at the Cop28 summit in Dubai. Photo: UAE Presidential Court
French investment bank Natixis estimates investment in hydrogen will exceed $300 billion by 2030.
International Standards Organisation methodology for the greenhouse gas emissions assessment of hydrogen was also launched on Tuesday.
These guidelines could serve as the initial framework for a series of additional regulations at both national and state levels, shaping the direction of hydrogen production.
“This is a truly international methodology for assessing the GHG footprint of hydrogen from well to consumption gate including every delivery gate on a life-cycle analysis basis,” said Ulrika Francke, president of the ISO.
“It helps us to create a common international language around hydrogen and allows the least carbon-intensive solutions to shine.”
Almost one quarter of global hydrogen demand – about 150 megatonnes per year – will be met through international trade by 2050, while the remaining 75 per cent will be domestically produced and consumed, the International Renewable Energy Agency said in a report last year.
The hydrogen trade scenario will be a significant change from today’s oil market, where the bulk – nearly three quarters – is internationally traded, the Abu Dhabi-based agency said at the time.
Hydrogen deals
Energy companies have announced several hydrogen agreements during the Cop28 summit.
Abu Dhabi’s clean energy company Masdar and Spain’s Iberdrola have signed a €15 billion ($16.25 billion) partnership to evaluate the development of offshore wind and green hydrogen projects in key markets including Germany, the UK and the US.
Masdar also signed a joint development agreement with Jordan to develop a 1-gigawatt wind project with battery storage, and an agreement to explore the feasibility of establishing a green hydrogen plant.
The UAE’s state-owned energy company Adnoc and Azerbaijan signed an agreement to explore opportunities in blue hydrogen, carbon management and geothermal technologies.
The Emirates, the Arab world’s second-largest economy, aims to achieve hydrogen production of 1.4 million tonnes annually by 2031, increasing to 15 million tonnes a year by 2050.
The country is planning to develop at least two hydrogen production hubs, or oases, by 2031.
More than 70 per cent of the country’s hydrogen production will be green, Mr Al Mazrouei said.
“Hydrogen for us in the UAE is definitely one of the solutions … we will help other nations as well in exporting hydrogen, primarily green hydrogen,” he said.
