Register for MEED's guest programme 

Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (Added) and UK-headquartered asset management company Hycap Group have partnered to develop an industrial complex in Abu Dhabi with the involvement of local partners.

The complex will specialise in industries related to hydrogen and the advancement of renewable energy sources, Added said in a statement.

It will aim to attract and establish more industrial companies and bolster the value chains within the sector. 

Through the partnership, the Industrial Development Bureau – Added's arm to develop and regulate the industrial sector –and Hycap "will work together to establish an industrial complex in Abu Dhabi for the development of renewable energy sources, an electrolysis plant, a hydrogen storage facility and hydrogen tankers for transportation".

Source: Added

The complex will contribute to the development of Abu Dhabi’s sustainable industrial sector and the goals of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy (Adis), which seeks to develop value chains for targeted sectors.

Hycap will also work to create a robust ecosystem of industries in Abu Dhabi that revolve around the hydrogen industry and clean energy infrastructure.

This includes the establishment of clean hydrogen production facilities, clean hydrogen storage and transport, an electrolyser manufacturing facility, electrical charging manufacturing and fuel cell manufacturing plants, as well as the development of bus and truck manufacturing facilities.

According to Added, the strategy is to align supply and demand for hydrogen locally, scaling up to create a viable proposition for export sales growth.

It is understood that Hycap is seeking to attract global industrial companies specialising in this field to the planned industrial complex in Abu Dhabi.

Hydroject projects

The hydrogen-centric industrial complex aligns with the UAE's plans to establish hydrogen hubs to accelerate industry adoption of hydrogen, cultivating a supply chain and enabling infrastructure.

There are at least 12 individual green hydrogen projects that are being planned in Abu Dhabi. The main proponents of these projects include Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), Engie, Fertiglobe, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Brooge, Marubeni, SK Engineering & Construction, Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), Siemens Energy, Taqa and Emirates Steel.

They comprise about 16% of the overall number of planned green hydrogen and green ammonia projects across the Middle East and North Africa region.  

The projects support the UAE's Net Zero Strategy 2050 and the National Hydrogen Strategy, which aims to make the UAE a top 10 producer of green hydrogen by 2031 with an output target of 1.4 million tonnes a year.

MEED’s November 2023 special report on the UAE includes: 

> COMMENT: UAE eyes global leadership role
> POLITICS: Abu Dhabi networks on the global stage
> ECONOMY: UAE economy maintains robust growth
> BANKING: UAE banks enjoy the good times
> UPSTREAM: Hail and Ghasha galvanises UAE upstream market
> DOWNSTREAM: Adnoc spurs downstream gas expansions
> POWER: UAE closes ranks ahead of Cop28
> WATER: UAE ramps up decarbonisation of water sector
> PROJECTS: Top 10 UAE clean energy projects
> CONSTRUCTION: UAE construction sector returns to form
> TRANSPORT: UAE aviation returns to growth