A research study conducted by Sultan Qaboos University has revealed significant potential for green hydrogen development in northwestern Oman. This region is new to the official green hydrogen investment maps in the country.

The research, titled “Technical and Economic Assessment for Green Hydrogen Production in the Unexploited Northwestern Region of Oman to Achieve the National Sustainable Strategy,” highlighted promising potentials in five key locations in the northwest: Bahla, Fahud, Ibri, Jabal, and Sinaina.

The study was carried out by a team of researchers from the Sustainable Energy Research Center at Sultan Qaboos University and the College of Engineering, supported by Daleel Petroleum.

Hilal Al-Abri, a research assistant at Sultan Qaboos University and a developmental planning engineer at Petroleum Development Oman, stated that this is the first study of its kind to evaluate the implementation of green hydrogen production in northwest Oman. He noted that the study involved an extensive assessment of the feasibility of deploying green hydrogen in these areas.

The research team evaluated the green energy potentials of the five sites, considering their renewable capabilities, land availability, and proximity to demand centers.

The study concluded that Bahla showed the least potential for wind energy, while the highest potentials were recorded in Fahud and Jabal. For solar energy systems, all sites demonstrated similar potentials except for Bahla, which has a slight advantage due to its hot and dry climate.

The results of this study will assist in determining the technical and economic feasibility of green hydrogen production systems in the northwestern region, providing green investment opportunities, and enhancing the green hydrogen sector in Oman.

These contributions will positively impact the energy transition goals outlined in Oman Vision 2040 and the national net energy strategy.

Hydrom, the regulatory body for the green hydrogen sector in Oman, currently oversees an area of 50,000 square kilometers distributed across the central and southern parts of the country.