Dutch Hydrogen Alliance Advances Oman Demo Project: What This Means for Investment Opportunities and Business Growth in Oman
Holland Hydrogen Hub (H3), an alliance of Dutch companies active throughout the hydrogen value chain, has launched a pilot project in collaboration with SOHAR Port and Freezone to evaluate the feasibility of producing green hydrogen using alternative technologies.
Marcel Kooter, Co-Founder of H3, said the demonstration initiative is being carried out in partnership with Hydrom, the orchestrator of Oman’s green hydrogen sector, and OQ, the state-owned integrated energy group. The project aims to demonstrate how a combination of advanced technologies can produce, store, and transport hydrogen more efficiently and sustainably.
The project, initially announced during the State Visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the Netherlands in April, was discussed in an interview with Dr Nasser al Rizeiqi, Sustainability Expert at the Oman Net Zero Centre. This interview was part of The Energy Talks series leading up to the Green Hydrogen Summit Oman in December.
Kooter explained that the initiative focuses on deploying novel solid oxide electrolysers (SOEC), which operate at high temperatures—around 1,000°C—enabling greater efficiency by utilizing heat from alternative sources instead of relying solely on electricity. This process reduces electricity consumption by about 30% for the same hydrogen output, thereby lowering production costs by reducing the scale of renewable infrastructure required.
The project also uses liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) for the safe storage and transportation of hydrogen through an additional thermal process. By integrating these technologies, waste heat generated during electrolysis can be repurposed for water desalination, creating an efficient ecosystem for hydrogen production and transport.
“In May, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hydrom to advance the project to the next stage, which involves completing a feasibility study currently underway. We aim to finish this by the end of the year,” Kooter said. “We are confident that we will demonstrate the project’s economic viability before proceeding further.”
SOHAR Port and Freezone, partnering with the Port of Rotterdam, plays a crucial role in this initiative. Green hydrogen produced in Suhar will be shipped as LOHC to the Netherlands and broader Europe via Rotterdam, with the first shipments anticipated by 2028 if progress remains on schedule.
Several technology pioneers are participating in this demonstration, including Desolenator, a Dutch startup providing the world’s first solar thermal desalination solution for sustainable ultrapure water production; Elestor BV, which offers advanced hydrogen flow batteries for optimized energy storage; Bosal and SolydEra Group, showcasing high-efficiency SOEC electrolysis; HyET Hydrogen BV, presenting an efficient electrochemical hydrogen compression solution; Voyex, developer of proprietary LOHC technology for safe and scalable transport; and SoluForce, supplying high-pressure Flexible Composite Pipe (FCP/RTP) systems for hydrogen transport.
This collaborative project underscores a significant step toward advancing green hydrogen production and transport technologies between Oman and the Netherlands.
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This pilot initiative to produce green hydrogen using advanced solid oxide electrolysers and liquid organic hydrogen carriers positions Oman as a strategic player in the sustainable hydrogen value chain, tapping into lower-cost, efficient production with integrated water desalination benefits. For businesses, this creates opportunities in clean energy infrastructure, technology partnerships, and export markets to Europe, while investors should consider early engagement in innovative hydrogen tech and supply chain development as Oman gears up for its first shipments by 2028. The project underscores Oman’s pivotal role in the global energy transition and green hydrogen economy.
