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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Oman LNG to capitalise on renewables drive, Sur Hydrogen Cluster

Decarbonisation: Hydrogen output from proposed Sur Hydrogen and Energy Transition Cluster estimated at 480 tonnes/day
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A proposed Hydrogen and Energy Transition Cluster, currently the subject of a feasibility study for eventual implementation at Sur Industrial City, has the potential to produce around 480 tonnes/day of hydrogen, according to Oman LNG – a key stakeholder in the initiative.


The study, backed by the Sustainable Energy Research Centre (SERC) of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) as well as the National Hydrogen Alliance (Hy-Fly), will not only contribute to the decarbonisation of industries in Sur, but also free up natural gas volumes for potential liquefaction into LNG prior to their export.


Significantly, majority state-owned Oman LNG sees itself as well-placed to benefit from the sizable volumes of gas saved as the nation’s power sector invests in renewables as part of a transition to cleaner energy resources.


“I think that the national target of 30 per cent of electricity generation coming from renewables by 2030 is realistically achievable,” commented Oman LNG CEO Dr Hamed al Naamany.


“Additionally, the liberalisation of the power sector with the creation of a spot market represents a great opportunity not only for the country, but for Oman LNG as an LNG producer too,” he stated in a recent interview featured in Renewables Now, a UK based news portal.


Furthermore, the potential availability of hydrogen from the Sur Hydrogen Cluster will also help optimize Oman LNG’s operations. “(Hydrogen) will become available to a number of industries that today are using gas, allowing us to produce more LNG. Hydrogen is a fuel that, as an LNG producer, we can consume too,” he said.


With this goal in mind, Oman LNG is extending its keen backing to the Sur Hydrogen and Energy Transition Cluster initiative. Envisaged to include renewable energy components, the hub will potentially produce 480 tonnes of hydrogen per day.


“This would allow us to reduce our own gas consumption to power our plants, and dedicate the excess gas for LNG. We will shift from gas turbines to gas engines that can be enabled to run on green hydrogen,” said the CEO.


“In short, hydrogen will help us decarbonise our own production and enable a much richer energy mix. That is why Oman LNG has been pioneering the Sur hub concept – because we should not look at hydrogen in isolation, but should see it in combination with the other energy means to capitalise on it the most,” he further added.


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