Green hydrogen is hydrogen made by splitting water with electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind. No fossil fuel is burned and no carbon dioxide is released during production. Oman plans to become one of the world’s largest green hydrogen producers, using its strong sun, wind and available land. This guide explains how green hydrogen is produced, the main electrolyser types, and how it compares with grey and blue hydrogen. For Oman’s wider plans, read green hydrogen in Oman.
How Green Hydrogen Is Produced
- Renewable power: solar and wind plants supply the electricity.
- Water supply and treatment: electrolysers need very pure water. In Oman this usually means desalinated seawater. About 9 kg of water is used for every 1 kg of hydrogen, plus extra water for treatment and cooling.
- Electrolysis: electricity splits water (H₂O) into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) inside an electrolyser.
- Compression, storage and conversion: hydrogen is compressed and stored, or converted into green ammonia, which is easier to ship for export.
Main Electrolyser Types
| Type | How it works | Main strengths |
|---|---|---|
| Alkaline (AEL) | Liquid alkaline electrolyte | Mature, lower cost, long track record |
| PEM | Solid polymer membrane | Compact, responds fast to changing solar and wind output |
| Solid oxide (SOEC) | Ceramic electrolyte at high temperature | Highest efficiency when waste heat is available; less mature |
How Much Electricity Does It Take?
The theoretical minimum is about 39 kWh of electricity per kg of hydrogen. Real electrolyser systems today use roughly 50–55 kWh per kg. Electricity is therefore the largest cost in green hydrogen, which is why low-cost solar and wind power is the key to competitive production. One kilogram of hydrogen holds about 33 kWh of energy.
Green, Grey and Blue Hydrogen
- Grey hydrogen: made from natural gas by steam methane reforming. It is the most common method today and releases roughly 9–12 kg of CO₂ for every kg of hydrogen.
- Blue hydrogen: made the same way as grey hydrogen, but most of the CO₂ is captured and stored (CCS). Emissions are lower, but not zero.
- Green hydrogen: made by electrolysis powered by renewables, with near-zero emissions in production.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is green hydrogen?
Hydrogen produced by splitting water with renewable electricity, so no carbon dioxide is released during production.
Why is Oman suited to green hydrogen?
Oman has strong solar and wind resources, large areas of land for renewable plants, and ports for export. Hydrom manages the national green hydrogen programme and allocates land to developers.
What is the biggest cost in green hydrogen?
Electricity. Real systems use about 50–55 kWh per kg of hydrogen, so cheap solar and wind power matters most.
Why convert hydrogen to ammonia?
Ammonia is easier and cheaper to store and ship than pure hydrogen, so most export projects plan to ship green ammonia.
Need Renewable Power Expertise?
AL-DHAW supports solar projects in Oman with consultancy and EPC. Contact us to discuss your project.
