Abu Dhabi: On the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, BEEAH has unveiled plans for the Middle East's first commercial-scale waste-to-hydrogen plant in Al Sajaa, Sharjah. The project aims to transform waste into green hydrogen, providing a new pathway for emissions-free energy production and hydrogen-fueled mobility.
According to Emirates News Agency, the plant is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), UK-based Chinook Hydrogen, and Japan's Air Water Inc. The facility will use Chinook Hydrogen's RODECS gasification and pyrolysis solution alongside Air Water Inc.'s hydrogen refinement technology. This combination will produce fuel-cell grade hydrogen from various organic-based materials, including municipal solid waste. The plant is set to begin its first phase in the second quarter of 2027, with an expected daily output of 7 tons of green hydrogen, totaling an annual production capacity of 2,560 tons. The plant will also divert significant waste amounts and reduce around 30,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
In addition to hydrogen, the plant will generate by-products such as biogenic carbon dioxide and nitrogen, which have industrial applications. This innovative technology was first demonstrated in 2023 at a plant in Nottingham, UK, and presented at COP28 UAE in the presence of Eng Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI.
Eng Sharif Al Olama emphasized the importance of energy diversification and hydrogen leadership as part of the UAE's Centennial Plan 2071 and National Hydrogen Strategy. He acknowledged BEEAH and Chinook Hydrogen's progress and anticipated future collaborations, highlighting the project's potential to reduce fossil fuel reliance and position the UAE as a global hydrogen leader.
The waste-to-hydrogen technology has been independently verified and received a Technology Readiness Level between 6 and 7, confirming its readiness for operational environments. BEEAH, Chinook Hydrogen, and Air Water Inc. plan to scale the plant, aiming for a production capacity of 20 tons of green hydrogen per day in subsequent phases.
Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO and Vice Chairman of BEEAH, expressed pride in collaborating with MoEI and international partners. He highlighted the plant's role in addressing emissions challenges, supporting hydrogen-fueled mobility, and increasing waste diversion rates to eliminate landfill emissions. The trials in Nottingham and presentation at COP28 demonstrated breakthrough technology, which will now be applied locally to support the UAE's net-zero strategy and hydrogen ambitions.
Aligning with the National Hydrogen Strategy, the UAE aims to lead global hydrogen production by 2031. BEEAH continues to explore opportunities to contribute to this national ambition, from successful demonstrations in Nottingham to developing the commercial-scale plant in Sharjah with its partners.
Dr. Rifat Chalabi, Group Chairman and CEO of Chinook Hydrogen, noted the development of a cost-competitive, negative carbon intensity hydrogen production technology. The UAE-based plant aligns with the country's vision of becoming a leader in low-carbon fuel development and production.