There is a massive shift under way in the
global economy. The ongoing energy transition is unprecedented due to its scale
and the profound impact on the established socio-economic, technological, and
geopolitical trends worldwide. Amid this significant reshuffle, renewables, in
combination with energy efficiency, now form the leading edge of a far-reaching
global energy transition. This transition is not a fuel replacement, but a
shift to a different system with commensurate political, technical,
environmental, and economic disruptions.
اضافة اعلان
Fossil energy costs
have risen steeply, causing inflation worldwide. The world benefits from
deploying hydrogen in developing countries and emerging economies to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to local development and economic
growth. Hydrogen as a clean energy carrier is critical to the global
decarbonization trend, with the highest energy density of any fuel, three times
that of gasoline. Therefore, hydrogen is easier to store and transport than
electricity and can facilitate the decarbonization of challenging sectors.
Momentum is
building to scale up green hydrogen production in the Middle East and
capitalize on rapidly increasing solar and wind capacities as the potential to
support industrial decarbonization. Green hydrogen could provide 24 percent of
global energy needs by 2050 (38,000 TWh), helping to cut emissions by around a
third. Consequently, the transition to green hydrogen could enable $11 trillion
of infrastructure investment opportunities over the next 30 years and direct
annual revenues of $2.5 trillion.
Global hydrogen
production will reach 530 metric tonne per year by 2050. Assuming the full life
cycle analysis on average, the solar to hydrogen water footprint is 43 liters
of water per kg of hydrogen. Furthermore, producing oxygen as a by-product of
the electrolysis process could bring significant benefits to the water
industry. For comparison, the extraction and refining of oil has an average
water footprint of 133 liters of water per kg of oil.
… the transition to green hydrogen could enable $11 trillion of infrastructure investment opportunities over the next 30 years and direct annual revenues of $2.5 trillion.
In 2019, Jordan
ranked fourth most water-scarce country in the world. Aqaba is Jordan’s only
sea access. It is on the Red Sea, with a 25-kilometer share of the coast.
Therefore, the availability of seawater has led to significant research efforts
in developing direct seawater electrolysis technology for hydrogen production.
The direct
integration of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) process and proton exchange
membrane electrolysis will be in higher demand soon. The energy consumed for
SWRO would be negligible due to renewable energy, leading to an insignificant
increase in the levelized cost of hydrogen (<$0.1 per kg of H2).
The Kingdom could
produce affordable and cheap energy; the seawater desalination costs will drop
significantly. As an additional benefit, the surplus of processed seawater can
be further purified and utilized for domestic needs.
Using innovative
tools will serve the primary goal of shifting from water-centric resource
management to holistic planning and integrated decision making in the water,
energy, food, and environment sectors. The new paradigm powered by renewables
will provide Jordan with sustainable energy and water supply.
The government has
a unique opportunity today to shape the advent of hydrogen, avoid the flaws and
inefficiencies of current systems, and influence geopolitical outcomes.
The increased adoption of hydrogen technologies will
disrupt specific economic and political alliances and partnerships.
Furthermore, to deliver real change, we must enforce green roles and green
skills to co-locate hydrogen generation with “green” farming and bio-resource
hubs, leading to renewed economic models along a circular economy.
Green skills are
the core of the green transition and harnessing the shift of talent. This suite
of talents also offers the opportunity to demonstrate the positive forces of
disruption, enhancing national and regional sovereignty, resilience, and
cooperation.
We can
progressively shift toward these greener jobs, using skills to identify jobs
with the highest ability to turn sectors green. We need more opportunities for
those with green skills, need to upskill workers who currently lack those
skills, and need to ensure that green skills are hardwired into the skillset of
future generations.
Hamzeh S. Al-Alayani is a board member of a Jordanian public-sector
government investments management company and a regular commentator on regional
energy and industrial matters.
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