How NEOM Green Hydrogen Company is championing Saudi Arabia’s clean energy transition

Hydrogen production from renewable energy sources. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 01 October 2024
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How NEOM Green Hydrogen Company is championing Saudi Arabia’s clean energy transition

  • NEOM is leading Saudi Arabia’s mission to become a top manufacturer and exporter of clean energy
  • The project aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, diversifying the Kingdom’s economy while cutting carbon emissions

RIYADH: As global efforts to combat climate change intensify, Saudi Arabia is making bold strides in green hydrogen production, positioning itself as a world leader in the manufacture and export of sustainable energy.

At the heart of this transformation is the NEOM Green Hydrogen Company, a key component of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s blueprint for diversifying its economy away from oil and achieving sustainability.

Green hydrogen, produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, has emerged as a critical solution in the fight against climate change.

Unlike gray or blue hydrogen, which are produced from natural gas and emit carbon dioxide or require carbon capture technologies, green hydrogen offers a zero-emissions alternative that can be used across various sectors, from transportation to manufacturing and energy storage.

As part of Saudi Arabia’s long-term energy strategy, NGHC is harnessing the country’s abundant wind and sunshine to produce green hydrogen on a massive scale.

The initiative will not only help Saudi Arabia reduce its domestic carbon footprint but also position the Kingdom as a major global supplier of green hydrogen, helping other countries reduce their emissions.




To ensure that its green hydrogen plant is carbon-free, NGHC produces hydrogen only from solar and wind, said CEO Wesam Al-Ghamdi. (Shutterstock photo)

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Wesam Al-Ghamdi, CEO of NGHC, described how NGHC’s and the project’s focus on green hydrogen is aligned with the broader objectives of Vision 2030.

“We are proud to say that our vision is driven by Vision 2030,” he said. “Our product, our green ammonia, will be saving the world 5 million tonnes of carbon emissions.”

NGHC is set to be a cornerstone in Saudi Arabia’s green energy ambitions, producing up to 600 tonnes of green hydrogen daily using renewable energy from the vast solar and wind farms situated in NEOM — a futuristic city being built in northwest Saudi Arabia. 




Wesam Al-Ghamdi, CEO of NEOM Green Hydrogen Company. (Supplied)

Indeed, NEOM’s geographic position, with optimal sunlight and wind conditions, makes it an ideal hub for green hydrogen production.

At the core of NGHC is its cutting-edge technology. 

According to Al-Ghamdi, this will enable us to scale production at the plant to effectively support global decarbonization efforts, even within traditionally hard-to-abate sectors.




Late last year, NEOM started receiving wind turbines to power its green hydrogen plant in Oxagon, a floating industrial city under development on the coast of the Red Sea. (NEOM photo)

Additionally, ENOWA’s Hydrogen Innovation and Development Center (HIDC), located at Oxagon features a project by NGHC and will focus on R&D, training and development and will ensure the Kingdom stays ahead of evolving green energy technologies.

Al-Ghamdi stressed the entire development was designed with environmental considerations in mind. “Since we started the development and the design phase, we have been building the plant to be environmentally friendly,” he said.

While some critics argue that large-scale hydrogen production could inadvertently create environmental challenges, NGHC’s leadership emphasizes the sustainable nature of the operation

The company aims to produce hydrogen entirely through renewable energy sources, ensuring minimal environmental disruption.

“We are building the plant to be carbon-free. We are only producing hydrogen from solar and wind,” said Al-Ghamdi.

He further highlighted that environmental policies and procedures would remain central to the project as it evolved.




NEOM Green Hydrogen Company leaders on field visit. (Supplied)

“For the future, the keyword is reinforcement,” he said. “We build our policy, procedures and framework around starting the operations and continuing the operations to be environmentally friendly.”

NGHC’s ambitions extend far beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia. The project aims to position the Kingdom as a global leader in hydrogen production, while also creating thousands of new jobs and stimulating local economies.

These efforts reflect a broader global shift toward sustainable energy, offering a glimpse into the future of the hydrogen economy.

DID YOUKNOW?

• Green hydrogen releases zero carbon dioxide and its only byproduct is water, making it the cleanest hydrogen fuel.

• By 2030, half of Saudi Arabia’s power will come from renewable sources, including green hydrogen.

• Saudi Arabia plans to invest more than $200 billion in renewable energy by 2030, boosting green hydrogen initiatives.

International collaboration is seen as a key factor in the project’s success. By working closely with leading global industry partners, ACWA Power, Air Products, and NEOM, NGHC is ensuring it remains at the forefront of green hydrogen production.

Such partnerships are crucial for knowledge-sharing and innovation in the hydrogen sector. 

“ACWA Power and their experience, deep knowledge, and renewable power continues to be a source for us,” said Al-Ghamdi.




NEOM Green Hydrogen Company recently partnered with the Energy & Water Academy to train Saudi Arabia’s future green energy workforce. (NEOM photo)

For Saudi Arabia, green hydrogen is more than just a tool for reducing emissions — it is a critical element of its Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

“Saudi Arabia especially, the major countries of the G20, the decarbonizing and net-zero targets, are telling us that there is nowhere to go but to decarbonize,” said Al-Ghamdi.

“No one doubts that hydrogen is the fuel of the future.”
 

 


Saudi minister holds talks with Chinese, EU officials on climate, global issues 

Updated 25 May 2025
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Saudi minister holds talks with Chinese, EU officials on climate, global issues 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir received China's Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, they discussed strengthening cooperation in climate action and environmental conservation, along with other topics of mutual interest.

Both officials also reviewed the Kingdom’s ongoing initiatives and achievements in this field, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In a separate meeting, Al-Jubeir received the deputy secretary-general for political affairs at the European External Action Service, Olof Skoog, and his accompanying delegation.

The meeting reviewed international developments and the efforts being made to address them, in addition to discussing topics of mutual interest.


Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid to deliver Arafah sermon during Hajj 2025

Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid will deliver the Arafah sermon during this year’s Hajj. (@PRAGOVSA)
Updated 25 May 2025
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Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid to deliver Arafah sermon during Hajj 2025

  • The day of Arafah (the 9th of Dhul Hijjah) is widely considered the pinnacle of Hajj, marking the most important day for pilgrims
  • The sermon is delivered from Masjid Al-Nimra on Mount Arafat before Dhuhr and Asr prayers are performed together on Dhul Hijjah 9

RIYADH: Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid will deliver the Arafah sermon during this year’s Hajj, the Presidency of Religious Affairs announced on Sunday.

The day of Arafah (the 9th of Dhul Hijjah) is widely considered the pinnacle of Hajj, marking the most important day for pilgrims. Muslims around the world who are not performing the pilgrimage mark the day by fasting and engaging in worship.

The sermon is delivered from Masjid Al-Nimra on Mount Arafat before Dhuhr and Asr prayers are performed together on Dhul Hijjah 9.

Head of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the appointment.

The appointment underscores the Kingdom’s global religious leadership, reflects its continued support for religious institutions, and exemplifies the leadership’s care for the two holy mosques, the presidency said.


Saudi deputy FM receives EU official in Riyadh

Updated 25 May 2025
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Saudi deputy FM receives EU official in Riyadh

  • A meeting was also held as part of the third round of political consultations between Saudi Arabia and the EEAS

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji received Olof Skoog, deputy secretary-general for political affairs at the European External Action Service, and his accompanying delegation, in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations between the Kingdom and the EU and other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.

A meeting was also held as part of the third round of political consultations between the Kingdom and the EEAS. Senior officials from both sides participated in the session, chaired by Raed bin Khalid Qarmli, director-general of the general directorate of policy planning at the Saudi Foreign Ministry, with Skoog representing the European side.

 


Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority

Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, meets with Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
Updated 25 May 2025
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Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority

  • The meeting focused on strengthening Saudi-Pakistani ties in the field of heritage and culture

RIYADH: Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, met with Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority in Riyadh.

The meeting focused on strengthening Saudi-Pakistani ties in the field of heritage and culture, the Pakistani Embassy wrote in a post on X on Sunday.

The ambassador presented Inzerillo with a painting from his own Diriyah-themed series, created to celebrate the Kingdom’s history and heritage.

He also presented him with a made-in-Pakistan FIFA-standard football “symbolizing Pakistan’s craftsmanship and the mutual spirit of friendship.”


Saudi reserve engages pilgrims on biodiversity

Updated 25 May 2025
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Saudi reserve engages pilgrims on biodiversity

  • Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed

RIYADH: Hajj pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom by land were introduced to projects and initiatives of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority.

The initiative aims to enhance biodiversity, restore vegetation and breed endangered species to create a more sustainable natural environment.

The authority also distributed educational brochures to raise awareness about environmental preservation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed.

Visitors were informed about the reserve’s environmental heritage, biodiversity, and commitment to sustainable ecological stewardship, the SPA added.

The authority works to preserve biodiversity by protecting habitats and creating safe environments for wildlife and plants to thrive.

Its achievements include planting more than 2.4 million trees, scattering four tonnes of native seeds and rehabilitating 250,000 hectares of degraded land.

The reserve hosts more than 290 documented bird species — about 58 percent of those recorded in the Kingdom — and includes five internationally recognized important bird areas.

Covering 130,700 sq. kilometers, the King Salman Reserve is the largest natural terrestrial reserve in the Middle East, spanning four administrative regions: Jouf, Hail, Northern Borders, and Tabuk.