Acwa nears RFNBO certification for 4.4 GW Saudi hydrogen project

Saudi utility and desalination developer Acwa Power is moving closer to securing certification that its planned 4.4 GW hydrogen and ammonia complex complies with the European Union’s Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) standards.

A preliminary certification assessment conducted by German engineering and consulting company LBST found that the project, located in the Saudi Arabian port city of Yanbu, meets the key RFNBO criteria. According to LBST, the evaluation included a detailed review of project data and greenhouse gas emissions calculations.

The assessment results were independently audited by TÜV SÜD, which confirmed that the development is on track to obtain full RFNBO certification.

Acwa Power is developing the Yanbu project in partnership with German energy company EnBW. The integrated development includes renewable power generation facilities, seawater desalination plants, 4.4 GW of electrolyser capacity, ammonia synthesis units, and export infrastructure.

Once operational, the hub is expected to produce approximately 2.5 million tonnes of green ammonia per year, equivalent to around 400,000 tonnes of green hydrogen. Supporting this output will require up to 10 GW of renewable energy capacity, connected to the site through a 400-kilometre transmission network.

The project’s processing facilities are currently undergoing the front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase, which involves detailed technical studies and engineering work. This stage is scheduled for completion by mid-2026.

The Yanbu development is intended to serve as a key element of a future green ammonia export corridor linking Saudi Arabia with Germany.