RIYADH: NEOM Green Hydrogen Co., part of Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city NEOM, is building a foundation for a transformative clean energy sector, aiming for global leadership rather than merely establishing the world’s largest production plant, said its CEO.
In an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, Wesam Al-Ghamdi emphasized the project’s broader objectives, highlighting its alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the country’s decarbonization and economic transformation goals.
“When we are in production by December 2026, the 1.2 million tonnes of ammonia we’re going to be producing is equivalent to decarbonizing 22,000 heavy trucks. That’s up to 5 million tonnes of carbon emissions saved,” Al-Ghamdi said.
“But even beyond that, it goes to us building NEOM Green Hydrogen, building the industry in Saudi Arabia, building the skill sets and the know-how within the Kingdom,” he said.
The CEO noted that the project also serves as a model for large-scale hydrogen production, positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in the global hydrogen economy.
The plant will be powered entirely by solar and wind energy, with a 2.2-gigawatt electrolyzer designed for continuous hydrogen production. Construction is progressing rapidly, with over 60 percent of key infrastructure completed, including the hydrogen processing plant, solar facility, and wind farm.
“To date, we have received and installed every major piece of equipment,” Al-Ghamdi revealed, pointing to critical milestones such as the installation of electrolyzers, hydrogen storage systems, and ammonia tanks, all contributing to the plant’s readiness for operation.
In addition to construction, NGHC is focused on building its operational capabilities by recruiting skilled professionals and forging partnerships with educational institutions to develop a strong local talent pool.
“We are also building the company today in terms of the operation and maintenance procedures, policies, and recruitment,” Al-Ghamdi said.
Looking ahead, NGHC is set to operate a single electrolyzer at ENOWA’s Hydrogen Innovation and Development Center in Oxagon. The electrolyzer, which was always planned as part of the HIDC, will play a crucial role in refining processes and training engineers.
The company has also secured key partnerships to ensure the project’s long-term success. These include agreements with Thyssenkrupp for R&D on the technology, Baker Hughes to localize manufacturing of hydrogen compressors, and long-term service agreements with suppliers like Envision for wind turbines. Additionally, NGHC has partnered with Topsoe for ammonia plant technology.
The scale and ambition of the project aim to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in the hydrogen market. NGHC has also signed a 30-year offtake agreement with Air Products, allowing its hydrogen output to be converted into ammonia for easier transport and distribution to international markets.
This strategic partnership ensures the plant can meet the growing global demand for hydrogen, particularly in the heavy transport and industrial manufacturing sectors.
Reflecting on the significance of the project, Al-Ghamdi described it as more than just an industrial endeavor.
“Our existence by itself is the answer,” he said when asked about how the project will scale the Kingdom’s clean energy transition.
“We’re actually building the hydrogen production at the scale no one has ever attempted to. This scale is definitely the blueprint for everybody else to follow, to build at this scale. So, the world can get the demand of hydrogen.”
