The Blueprint to Hydrogen Innovation: Inside ENOWA’s Hydrogen Innovation Development Center (HIDC) with Jan Heinrich, Head of Asset Operations.

I always believed in hydrogen. After 20 years in this field, I know its potential and what it can do. But I had spent the better part of my career working on grey hydrogen, the most common form, which is generated from natural gas or methane through a process called steam reforming.

The problem with grey hydrogen is it’s a carbon-intensive process—hydrogen produced from fossil fuels emits as much carbon dioxide as the UK and Indonesia combined. Today, grey hydrogen already has multiple industrial applications, but unfortunately, it is not a sustainable solution.

That is why, five years ago, I switched my focus to green hydrogen. I had always been interested in its potential, but I was also aware of the challenges to wide-scale adoption. Between high production costs and the limitations of renewable energy sources, we were still a long way from a green-hydrogen-driven energy transition.

Or that was my impression before learning about ENOWA.

A New Pathway toward a Green Hydrogen Future

In NEOM, I believe the transformation in green hydrogen innovation is actually happening. Through HIDC, ENOWA has created a project that is the first of its kind in terms of scope and the ambitious circular vision that’s driving it forward.

The HIDC will contribute significantly to creating a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem that supports clean energy transitions, fuels economic growth and attracts global talent and investment. HIDC aspires to solidify its role in establishing hydrogen as a cornerstone for future energy systems through these initiatives.

This is where ENOWA’s circular vision truly proves to be a game changer. We are looking beyond just producing clean hydrogen using NEOM’s renewable resources; we are implementing a circular economy that can help create a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem.

That is why the first step toward a green hydrogen future starts with research and innovation at the HIDC. We’re also working on the most basic levels, not just on advanced research, to identify ways to make this technology work and bring about the energy transition.

A Global Impact 

The HIDC in NEOM will have a global impact on how we perceive green hydrogen and its potential. The center will act as a collaborative learning community that brings together researchers and innovators interested in revolutionizing our approach to green hydrogen technologies.

The progress happening at the HIDC is inspiring on all fronts and I think we’re going to be the first to see a lot of breakthroughs in this field.

I’m proud to be a part of such a diverse and innovative team from around the world that’s working to develop technologies that can help reduce global carbon emissions and protect our planet.

We’re steadily working toward our goal of positioning green hydrogen as a game-changer for many industries that need to decarbonize using an affordable and scalable solution. Once that happens, the sky is the limit to how we can adapt this diverse element to drive Net Zero goals.