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.”
 

 


Jazan University foreign scholarship scheme thriving as intake hits 2,100

Updated 8 sec ago
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Jazan University foreign scholarship scheme thriving as intake hits 2,100

  • 344 students from 20 countries enroll in 2025
  • Program provides platform for boosting cultural understanding, intellectual moderation

RIYADH: Jazan University enrolled 344 students into its foreign scholarship program this year, taking the total since its inception to 2,100.

The latest intake represent more than 20 countries, including France, Canada, the Russian Federation and several Arab, African and Asian nations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

As well as helping the university to increase its global standing, the program provides a platform for enhancing relationships between people from around the world, and nurturing cultural understanding and intellectual moderation, the report said.

Jazan University is regarded as a leading scientific institution within the Kingdom and the wider Arab world. It champions the message of Islam and the teaching of the Arabic language, while promoting the values of moderation, balance and understanding among people.

As well as the educational benefits, students enrolled on the scholarship program have access to a comprehensive healthcare package, which includes their accompanying family members, and various financial support options to cover shipping costs and the purchase of relevant materials and equipment.

The university also provides free flights home at the end of each academic year to ensure its students’ well-being.

A recent beneficiary of the scheme is Obaidur Rahman Abdul Hannan.

“This is an important academic project, which not only helps the meritorious students but also serves the purpose for achieving cultural understanding and intellectual moderation, making it an ambitious project deserving praise and appreciation both locally and internationally,” he told Arab News.

“Saudi Arabia is emerging as a global hub for higher education, offering a plethora of fully funded scholarships to international students across various disciplines.

“These scholarships by Jazan University, with excellent facilities, bearing all expenses, flight tickets, provide an excellent opportunity for non-Saudi students … to pursue various courses in such a prestigious university.”


Riyadh man faces prosecution for selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals

Updated 08 May 2025
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Riyadh man faces prosecution for selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals

  • SFDA said that violations pose a great risk to the health and safety of consumers
  • SFDA also requested the public’s cooperation by reporting any observable violations

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has referred the representative of a commercial establishment in Riyadh to the Public Prosecution after he was found to be involved in the sale of a counterfeit pharmaceutical product.

The act is a direct violation of the Pharmaceutical and Herbal Establishments and Products Law in the Kingdom, which mandates a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of SR10 million ($2.6 million), the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The SFDA highlighted the importance of strictly adhering to the laws and regulations put in place to ensure the safety and quality of products circulating in the Saudi market.

The authority said that violations pose a great risk to the health and safety of consumers, warranting the enforcement of legal penalties against offenders.

The SFDA also requested the public’s cooperation by reporting any observable violations in establishments under its supervision to the toll-free line 19999, in an effort to strengthen oversight and safeguard public health.


Saudi students display robotic inventions at Robocon 2025

Updated 08 May 2025
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Saudi students display robotic inventions at Robocon 2025

  • Event was attended by student inventors, investors and technology companies
  • Several panel discussions focused on ways in which robotics can affect society

RIYADH: Saudi students displayed their robotic inventions at King Abdulaziz University Robocon 2025, which was held at the university’s King Faisal Convention Center from Tuesday to Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Organized by the university’s Deanship of Student Affairs, the event was attended by student inventors, investors and technology companies.

Saudi student Samar Awad Al-Rabi, from the Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences at King Abdulaziz University, presented a smart temperature-monitoring device, aimed at protecting sensitive environments from sudden thermal changes.

Rania Al-Mukhtar Al-Sheikh, from Taibah University, presented an innovative treatment for dry macular degeneration, an eye disease that affects vision.

The device treats and repairs damaged cells, reduces inflammation, and improves bloodflow without damaging healthy tissues with the hope of restoring or improving vision.

Exhibition activities included a range of qualitative competitions, including the “Saqr” competition, which is the first engineering competition focused on drone technologies.

In another competition — the Robocup —robots battled it out on a miniature football pitch.

The event also featured the launch of the innovtech Hackathon, a coding challenge that will include four main tracks focusing on technology in education, tourism, manufacturing and the financial sector.

Several panel discussions focused on ways in which robotics can affect society — including one titled Turning Point: Transforming Tech Ideas into Successful Projects, which explored how to market technological inventions.

The exhibition offered a range of interactive experiences, including virtual reality exhibits and practical workshops that contributed to the skill development of participants.

An interactive game invited attendees to collect stamps from different attractions to win a prize, and visitors were served Arabic coffee by robots.

The university said that the event reflects its vision of empowering students and building a generation that will lead the future of robotics and smart technologies.


KAUST researchers join Africa marine research expedition

Updated 08 May 2025
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KAUST researchers join Africa marine research expedition

  • Mission began in Moroni, Comoros, with the team sailing south through the Indian Ocean to Cape Town, South Africa
  • Researchers focused on assessing biodiversity at several seamounts — underwater mountain formations

RIYADH: Researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology joined the Saudi non-profit foundation OceanQuest on its first marine expedition around Africa aboard the research vessel OceanXplorer.

The mission began in Moroni, Comoros, with the team sailing south through the Indian Ocean to Cape Town, South Africa.

Researchers focused on assessing biodiversity at several seamounts — underwater mountain formations.

A second phase, designed for early-career oceanographers, proceeded north to Walvis Bay in Namibia before concluding scientific operations in Mindelo, Cabo Verde.

The KAUST research team, comprising two PhD candidates from the Marine Microbiome Lab and one from Earth Science and Engineering, conducted research in biodiversity assessment, seamount studies and chemical analysis.

The team compared seamount formation in the Indian Ocean with similar geological phenomena in Saudi waters.


Ministry of Tourism inspects hospitality facilities ahead of Hajj

Saudi Arabia’s tourism ministry conducted an inspection of Hajj hospitality facilities. (SPA)
Updated 08 May 2025
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Ministry of Tourism inspects hospitality facilities ahead of Hajj

  • Al-Mazyad is assessing whether preparations and procedures of multiple hospitality establishments are following the tourism law and its executive regulations

RIYADH: Deputy Minister of Licensing and Classification at the Ministry of Tourism Abdulmuhsen Al-Mazyad has been conducting field tours of hospitality facilities in Makkah to ensure readiness for receiving pilgrims during the Hajj season.

Al-Mazyad is assessing whether preparations and procedures of multiple hospitality establishments are following the tourism law and its executive regulations.

The deputy minister is especially concerned about whether these establishments have obtained the proper operational licensing from the Ministry of Tourism.

As part of its efforts to grow sustainable partnerships with the tourism sector, the ministry’s delegation has also sat with hospitality investors and operators at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce.

Enhancing the quality of service in Makkah and the rest of the Kingdom, managing hardships faced by investors and operators, and the ministry’s commitment to combating those hardships, have all been discussed during the meetings.