Jordan Strengthens Green Hydrogen Drive with Key International Partnerships

AMMAN — Jordan is ramping up efforts to position itself as a key regional player in green hydrogen production, announced Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh on Wednesday.

At the third roundtable meeting with potential investors in green hydrogen, Kharabsheh highlighted the global shift toward sustainable energy, emphasizing Jordan’s readiness to become a green hydrogen hub capable of gradually replacing fossil fuels.

“Our vision is for Jordan to lead in regional green energy production,” Kharabsheh stated, adding that the ministry has already signed 13 memorandums of understanding and a framework agreement with prominent international corporations.

Jordan’s green hydrogen sector presents significant opportunities for attracting global leaders, thanks to green hydrogen’s flexibility, which allows conversion into derivatives like green ammonia, applicable in industrial, agricultural, and energy sectors, Kharabsheh added.

In collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the World Bank Group (WBG), Jordan is working to develop cost-efficient infrastructure that will enhance project competitiveness and accelerate green hydrogen production.

Gretchen Biery, EBRD Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, expressed EBRD’s commitment to fostering collaboration among Jordanian green hydrogen stakeholders. She highlighted the importance of selecting optimal infrastructure models to maximize green hydrogen investment in partnership with the Jordanian government.

Mohammed Qamh, a senior energy specialist at WBG, emphasized the importance of regulatory frameworks, mentioning that the World Bank is conducting technical studies and providing funding to support Jordan’s legislative groundwork for green hydrogen.

International consulting firm ILF, engaged by EBRD, shared insights on project development and stakeholder engagement, underscoring Jordan’s vision to become a center for green hydrogen and ammonia production. ILF noted that the ministry has incorporated a flexible planning approach, including infrastructure for engineering, energy resources, water procurement, ammonia storage, pipeline networks for desalination and water distribution, as well as port facilities for hydrogen exports. According to the ministry, seven investors are conducting feasibility studies, with potential investments reaching $28 billion by 2030.

The initiative includes multiple roundtable discussions with stakeholders, and a comprehensive report addressing essential project aspects is expected by December 2024. Jordan’s National Hydrogen Strategy, aligned with the Economic Modernisation Vision and National Energy Strategy, outlines ambitious renewable energy and hydrogen production goals. The Kingdom aims to produce 8 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy by 2030, growing to 22GW by 2040 and reaching 47GW by 2050.

The hydrogen production targets are equally ambitious, with plans to produce 0.6 million metric tons per annum (MMTPA) by 2030, increasing to 1.5MMTPA by 2040 and reaching 3.4MMTPA by 2050. Export goals are set to reach 0.5MMTPA by 2030, doubling by 2040, and achieving 2.3MMTPA by 2050.