Saudi Patent for Clean Hydrogen Production at Reduced Cost

Saudi Arabia aims to become one of the largest exporters of clean hydrogen in the world (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia aims to become one of the largest exporters of clean hydrogen in the world (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Patent for Clean Hydrogen Production at Reduced Cost

Saudi Arabia aims to become one of the largest exporters of clean hydrogen in the world (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia aims to become one of the largest exporters of clean hydrogen in the world (Asharq Al-Awsat)

A Saudi researcher has achieved a global patent in the clean hydrogen production sector, contributing to a significant reduction in production costs. This accomplishment positions Saudi Arabia’s hydrogen production as the most efficient and cost-effective on a global scale.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the patent was granted to Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulaal.

He holds the position of Chief Executive Director for Business Development and Head of Green Hydrogen Project Development at ACWA Power.

He is also an expert in open innovation at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The exact percentage of the cost reduction has not been disclosed due to the sensitivity of the information, as described.

Abdulaal’s invention in the realm of clean hydrogen and water desalination stands as a testament to innovative approaches to clean hydrogen production.

This innovation promises to drive down carbon emissions, harness and mitigate their impact, curb greenhouse gas effects, and preserve the environment.

The invention also aims to enhance Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in the sector, offering substantial economic viability and cost-efficiency while maximizing the utilization of available resources.

This patent arrives at a time when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had previously affirmed Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to become one of the largest sources of clean hydrogen globally. This aligns with the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

In a personal discussion, Abdulaal affirmed that securing the patent for clean hydrogen, which positions Saudi Arabia as a paragon of efficiency and cost-effectiveness, stems from the nation’s extensive capabilities in both traditional and renewable energy sectors.

He emphasized that this invention is part of his contribution towards realizing the objectives of Vision 2030, elevating the knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy, and bolstering Saudi Arabia’s global prominence in inventions, intellectual property, and innovations within the clean hydrogen value chains.

This initiative aims to foster a sustainable economy in the hydrogen industry, aligning it locally and establishing it as an exportable economic and intellectual asset worldwide.



EBRD: War and Weather Weigh on Economic Growth Again

A man walks past destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes in the Masaken neighborhood on the outskirts of Tyre, Lebanon on September 26, 2024.  (Photo by Hassan FNEICH / AFP)
A man walks past destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes in the Masaken neighborhood on the outskirts of Tyre, Lebanon on September 26, 2024. (Photo by Hassan FNEICH / AFP)
TT

EBRD: War and Weather Weigh on Economic Growth Again

A man walks past destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes in the Masaken neighborhood on the outskirts of Tyre, Lebanon on September 26, 2024.  (Photo by Hassan FNEICH / AFP)
A man walks past destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes in the Masaken neighborhood on the outskirts of Tyre, Lebanon on September 26, 2024. (Photo by Hassan FNEICH / AFP)

War and extreme weather are weighing on economic growth in countries covered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the bank said in a semi-annual report released on Thursday.

The downward revision to 2.8% GDP growth this year and 3.5% in 2025 is a small change, shaving off 0.2 and 0.1 percentage points respectively. But it is the second downward adjustment for the lender's region, which covers emerging Europe, central Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

"Travelling through European cities, I see that the mood is very much down," EBRD Chief Economist Beata Javorcik told Reuters, adding that Europe was grappling with expanding conflicts and high energy costs.

"There is a sense that Europe (is in) some crisis."

While energy prices have moderated since their spike after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Europe's gas prices are five times higher than those in the United States, the report showed.

Stagnating mining output in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon, and severe droughts in Morocco and Tunisia are also clipping growth, it said.

Javorcik said Chinese stimulus measures could boost commodity-exporting EBRD countries, and that trade barriers had led Beijing to pour billions into Hungary, Serbia and Morocco - foreign direct investment that could rise further if global trade policy blocks more imports from China.

But Javorcik said the expanding crisis in the Middle East - with Israel bombing Hezbollah targets in Lebanon - would deepen Lebanon's political and economic crisis.

"It is quite likely that countries that are in proximity to the conflict in the Middle East will see an increase in the risk premium, so their borrowing costs will be higher," she said.

The EBRD also shaved 1.3 percentage points off Ukraine's expected growth in 2025, to 4.7% due to attacks on energy infrastructure, and said they could also cause inflation to accelerate.

"Imported electricity is more expensive, so it increases the cost. Moreover, there are blackouts, rolling blackouts... That's going to be detrimental for energy-intensive industries."

In Russia, though, the EBRD said growth of 4.7% outpaced expectations in the first half of 2024, driven in part by oil export prices that increased by more than 10% year-on-year.

EBRD analysis showed that the discount that importers paid for Russian oil, which once stood at $20 per barrel, had disappeared, casting doubt on the effectiveness of Western price caps.

"Sanctions are working but they are working slowly," Javorcik said. "It's an effect that is cumulative... and it is going to be slowing down Russia's productivity."