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.



ECB's Lagarde Renews Integration Call as Trade War Looms

FILE PHOTO: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Governor of the Bank of Finland Olli Rehn arrive at the non-monetary policy meeting of the ECB's Governing Council in Inari, Finnish Lapland, Finland February 22, 2023. Lehtikuva/Tarmo Lehtosalo via REUTERS//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Governor of the Bank of Finland Olli Rehn arrive at the non-monetary policy meeting of the ECB's Governing Council in Inari, Finnish Lapland, Finland February 22, 2023. Lehtikuva/Tarmo Lehtosalo via REUTERS//File Photo
TT

ECB's Lagarde Renews Integration Call as Trade War Looms

FILE PHOTO: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Governor of the Bank of Finland Olli Rehn arrive at the non-monetary policy meeting of the ECB's Governing Council in Inari, Finnish Lapland, Finland February 22, 2023. Lehtikuva/Tarmo Lehtosalo via REUTERS//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Governor of the Bank of Finland Olli Rehn arrive at the non-monetary policy meeting of the ECB's Governing Council in Inari, Finnish Lapland, Finland February 22, 2023. Lehtikuva/Tarmo Lehtosalo via REUTERS//File Photo

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde renewed her call for economic integration across Europe on Friday, arguing that intensifying global trade tensions and a growing technology gap with the United States create fresh urgency for action.
US President-elect Donald Trump has promised to impose tariffs on most if not all imports and said Europe would pay a heavy price for having run a large trade surplus with the US for decades.
"The geopolitical environment has also become less favorable, with growing threats to free trade from all corners of the world," Lagarde said in a speech, without directly referring to Trump.
"The urgency to integrate our capital markets has risen."
While Europe has made some progress, EU members tend to water down most proposals to protect vested national interests to the detriment of the bloc as a whole, Reuters quoted Lagarde as saying.
But this is taking hundreds of billions if not trillions of euros out of the economy as households are holding 11.5 trillion euros in cash and deposits, and much of this is not making its way to the firms that need the funding.
"If EU households were to align their deposit-to-financial assets ratio with that of US households, a stock of up to 8 trillion euros could be redirected into long-term, market-based investments – or a flow of around 350 billion euros annually," Lagarde said.
When the cash actually enters the capital market, it often stays within national borders or leaves for the US in hope of better returns, Lagarde added.
Europe therefore needs to reduce the cost of investing in capital markets and must make the regulatory regime easier for cash to flow to places where it is needed the most.
A solution might be to create an EU-wide regulatory regime on top of the 27 national rules and certain issuers could then opt into this framework.
"To bypass the cumbersome process of regulatory harmonization, we could envisage a 28th regime for issuers of securities," Lagarde said. "They would benefit from a unified corporate and securities law, facilitating cross-border placement, holding and settlement."
Still, that would not solve the problem that few innovative companies set up shop in Europe, partly due to the lack of funding. So Europe must make it easier for investment to flow into venture capital and for banks to fund startups, she said.