Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently organized an international workshop entitled The Hydrogen Energy Opportunity for Qatar. The two-day event sought to inform stakeholders on the country’s hydrogen energy opportunities, promote discussions regarding a national strategy, and facilitate international collaboration in the areas of policy, business and research, and saw the participation of over 50 delegates from eight countries including Japan, Australia, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland and Qatar.

Organized in line with QEERI’s mandate to support Qatar in tackling its grand challenges related to energy, water and the environment, the workshop brought together leading international experts and national stakeholders from the public, private, academic and industry sectors. The Hydrogen Energy Opportunity for Qatar also reflected the unprecedented attention currently being paid to hydrogen energy as well as global efforts to harness its full potential. 

According to Dr. Marcello Contestabile, Principal Economist at QEERI and chair of the workshop, “There is a growing international consensus that hydrogen has a key role to play in a deeply decarbonized energy system. Conversely, there is also a need for large investments and international cooperation to ensure that hydrogen technology is scaled up and rolled out, and for markets to be created for the end product.

Qatar is already playing a global role in the energy transition as a major supplier of the cleanest fossil fuel and is taking assertive steps to reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of the LNG it delivers through methane management and CCS. Hydrogen will allow the country to take this further and continue to profit from its endowment of natural gas in a low carbon world. To make the most of it, however, a joint approach at the national and international level is required.”

He expressed his opinions on the highly favorable responses received from international experts and national shareholders and furthermore, stated that a forum will be provided to continue further discussions regarding the development of a hydrogen ecosystem in Qatar.

Dr. Jose M Bermudez, Energy Technology Analyst in Hydrogen and Alternative Fuels at the International Energy Agency (IEA), stated that Hydrogen will play a vital role in energy transition, specifically in hard to abate sectors where direct electrification is challenging and sustainable biomass availability will not be able to meet energy demands. However, this will require a significant expansion in hydrogen use and a simultaneous switch from hydrogen production to low-carbon routes . In order to make this possible, a tremendous level of collaboration is required and will prove to be a challenging task at all stages.

He expressed the need for platforms, much like this workshop, to bring together local and international stakeholders to further discuss and develop national hydrogen strategies, shaping the role of hydrogen in a future clean energy system.

According to Yousef Al-Jaber, Vice President of Innovation & Change Management Total E&P Qatar, “Hydrogen is a key milestone in the future to supply decarbonized gas and LNG. Today the players have an opportunity to dominate the future world of hydrogen if they lay the right strategy. Therefore, the workshop organized by QEERI is coming at the best time for all the stakeholders in the energy sector.”

“Despite the difficulties that we face with the COVID-19 crisis, QEERI has successfully managed to organize a fruitful workshop on the future of hydrogen and the role it could play in a decarbonized energy future. The workshop was attended by experts and professionals from all over the globe sharing their knowledge and inspiring one another. QEERI is truly providing a great platform for innovation.”

The round table discussions saw the active participation from representatives of all key oil and gas companies in Qatar, as well as international research and policy institutions, industrial organizations and consultancy firms.

QEERI is committed to assisting Qatar to diversify its energy mix, and focuses on sustainability research, development and innovation across its various centers including the Energy Center, Water Center, Environment and Sustainability Center, Corrosion Center and its Earth Sciences Program.

For more information on the work of Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, please visit hbku.edu.qa/en/qeeri  

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