Hydrogen Strategic Conference Programme

Opening Keynote Address

Session Location: ICC Hall

The impact of climate change are increasingly visible, and the urgency to create change is now. For energy transition to be just and equitable, nations and businesses alike must focus on energy security, economic development, and climate action. As the energy transition progresses, regional decarbonisation and net-zero targets must align with global targets, and hydrogen will play a critical role in achieving these goals. Climate finance will be critical in financing a sustainable, climate-safe hydrogen economy.

Ministerial Panel

Session Location: ICC Hall

To limit global warming to 1.5°C, the Hydrogen Council predicts an estimated 660 million metric tons of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives will be required in 2050. This will necessitate significant multi-lateral cooperation to advance policies, programmes and the projects that can accelerate, at scale, the deployment of hydrogen fuels and technologies across all aspects of the energy value chain. A growing number of governments are adopting hydrogen strategies and targets for technology deployment while policy development to stimulate demand has been progressing intermittently. Governments, policymakers, and regulators will need to build their support, through direct subsidies and progressive policies, for applications where hydrogen offers the greatest potential for abating GHG emissions.

Session Panelist:

His Excellency
Matt Jones

Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

Government of Alberta, Canada

Strategic Panel

Session Location: ICC Hall

The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts hydrogen could meet up to 18 percent of the world's energy demand by 2050, generating a market worth up to US $200 billion annually. Hydrogen’s growing contribution to the global energy mix could help expedite delivery of new levels of demand, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. To do that, hydrogen must be competitively priced to compete with traditional fuels and penetrate the market. In addition to forging partnerships along the hydrogen value chain, developing cross-sector, international partnerships will be essential to bring in the technology, investment, and expertise required to pursue hydrogen strategies and develop infrastructure. The potential of hydrogen as an energy source is vast, but its implementation requires addressing issues related to affordable input energy costs, hydrogen production, transit, and storage costs, as well as expanding current infrastructure.

Session Panelists:

Carsten Poppinga

Chief Commercial Officer

Uniper

Hanan Balalaa

SVP New Energies & CCUS

ADNOC

Ahmed El-Hoshy

CEO

Fertiglobe and OCI Global

Rasha Hasaneen

Chief Sustainability Officer

Aspentech

Strategic Panel

Session Location: ICC Hall

Green hydrogen, produced from renewable electricity through electrolysis, is crucial for a low-carbon future. Accelerating its production and deployment requires supportive policies, global cooperation, continued investments in infrastructure, as well as scaling up electrolysis, all while reducing costs. Green ammonia and hydrogen derivatives will play a significant role in delivering cost-effective green hydrogen. Moreover, connecting low-cost regions with demand centers will be pivotal for scaling production and deployment of green hydrogen.

Session Panelists:

Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi

Chief Green Hydrogen Officer

Masdar

Astrid Poupart-Lafarge

Global Segment President Energies and Chemicals

Schneider Electric

Stephan Gobert

SVP, Hydrogen – AMEA

Engie

Francois Dao

VP, Middle East & Africa

EDF Renewables

Yako J. Wijnands

VP - Operations

NEOM Green Hydrogen Company

Session Moderator:

Mogens Holm

Partner and Associate Director

Boston Consulting Group

Strategic Panel

Session Location: ICC Hall

Hydrogen needs investment and policy support to establish demand, reduce costs and increase the scale of deployment.  Over 30 countries have now established hydrogen strategies, with an estimated allocation of US $76 billion in government funding. However, revenue certainty will be critical for attracting and managing the risks faced by first mover investors. Practical options for additional financial support will need to be developed as a key part of the roadmap towards a hydrogen revolution.

Session Panelists:

Vineet Mittal

Chairman

Avaada Group

Michele Fiorentino

EVP Low-Carbon Solutions & Business Development

ADNOC

Marc de Saint Gerand

Executive Director, Dep. Head of Industry and Advisory, Energy Sector Group

SMBC Bank International plc

Amir Sharifi

Chief Investment Officer

Hy24

Amanda Leland

Executive Director

Environmental Defense Fund

Session Moderator:

Simon Flowers

Chairman, Energy and Chief Analyst

Wood Mackenzie

Strategic Panel

Session Location: ICC Hall

As hydrogen strategies draw increasing interest from governments and energy companies, the development of blue hydrogen production, utilising natural gas, and carbon capture and storage (CCUS) technology, is viewed as a bridge in the transition to a green hydrogen economy. The expectation is carbon capture and storage technologies and projects will enable faster and cost-effective production of blue hydrogen, and be an attractive option for decarbonising heavy emitting sectors. In addition, blue hydrogen could also enable reductions in supply chain bottlenecks in the green hydrogen sector. Projections show that global production capacity for blue hydrogen is expected to increase considerably over the next ten years. Is blue hydrogen a long term solution or only a medium-term bridge to green hydrogen?

Session Panelists:

Franck Neel

Executive Board Member Gas & Power

OMV Petrom

Brandon Spencer

President, Energy Industries

ABB

Piero Ercoli

SVP Decarbonisation Projects Unit

SNAM

Frederik Majkut

SVP – Carbon Solutions

SLB

Dr. Nikunj Gupta

VP Hydrogen Studies

ADNOC

Justine Roure

Deputy VP Strategy & Policy

OGCI

Session Moderator:

Vatche Kourkejian

Sr Partner & Head of Middle East Energy Dubai

Roland Berger Strategy Consultants

Strategic panel

Session Location: ICC Hall

As the global energy transition progresses, there is a growing need for low and zero-carbon solutions. Ammonia, already an essential raw material for various industries, is gaining popularity as a potential energy generation fuel, with applications for electric power, maritime transport and as a hydrogen carrier and carbon-free energy commodity. Determining the optimal use of ammonia as a carrier is critical. Overcoming the cost and energy intensity issues in its synthesis and cracking is essential. Additionally, developing the necessary infrastructure for large-scale ammonia production, transportation and storage poses significant challenges. Investment in research and development, optimising production processes, and creating supportive policies will be imperative to enable ammonia to play a pivotal role in the global energy transition.

Session Panelists:

Haroon Rahmathulla

COO

Fertiglobe

Gautam Reddy

COO – New Energy

Greenko

Ashwani Dudeja

President & Director (Green Hydrogen and Ammonia)

ACME Group

Takeo AKAMATSU

General Manager, Green Innovation Business Unit

ITOCHU Corporation

Session Moderator:

Robert Campbell

Head of Energy Transition Research

Energy Aspects

Strategic Panel

Session Location: ICC Hall

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) anticipates 25% of global hydrogen demand will be met through international trade by 2050. Hydrogen exports can offer an opportunity for economies to diversify. It will also provide a means for importing countries to diversify suppliers and decrease the costs of transitioning to lower emissions. To unlock hydrogen trade flows, cross-border infrastructure will need to be developed. Policies will be essential to establish global standards for hydrogen and drive investments into the sector. International government and industry partnerships, like the recently launched International Hydrogen Trade Forum, are crucial to boost trade, reduce barriers, and create favourable market conditions.

Session Panelists:

Paddy Padmanathan

Co-Founder & Vice Chair

Zhero

Toshiaki Takimoto

SVP, Hydrogen & CCUS Development

INPEX CORPORATION

Youssef Merjaneh

SVP - EMEA

Black & Veatch

Isabelle Capaldi-Lureau

Global Lead Originator - H2 and Derivatives

TotalEnergies

Andrea Pisano

Head of Hydrogen Initiatives, Energy Evolution

Eni

Strategic Panel

Session Location: ICC Hall

Hydrogen’s success in the global energy mix will depend on the ability to develop a sustainable and robust supply chain. Pipelines, as well as road, rail and shipping solutions will be essential to transport hydrogen to locations with large-scale storage facilities. Access to renewable energy sources will be crucial in meeting the demand for hydrogen, increasing procurement demands on manufacturers of hydrogen and renewables equipment. However, the scarcity of rare-earth materials could be a constraint on some technologies. Companies looking to take advantage of the opportunities presented by hydrogen will need to make strategic bets, build an ecosystem, and proactively engage with policy makers, investors and stakeholders at all levels of the supply chain.

Session Panelists:

Manuel Kuehn

SVP for Sustainable Energy Systems

Siemens Energy

Dr. Yamamoto Koji

VP, Energy Business Unit

JOGMEC

Uwe Zwiefelhofer

Managing Director Head of Region MENA

Linde Engineering Middle East. LLC

John Kent

Chief Energy Transition Officer

Kent

Strategic Panel

Session Location: ICC Hall

According to Bloomberg NEF, the shift to hydrogen from natural gas will require US $600 billion investments in storage facilities by 2050. Creating a low-carbon hydrogen ecosystem will necessitate both centralised and decentralised production, distribution, and storage, depending on numerous factors such as renewable energy availability, existing infrastructure, and hydrogen usage efficiency. This presents an array of potential opportunities for machinery manufacturers and suppliers who can adapt their products to incorporate hydrogen. However, the slow pace of infrastructure development is a major challenge that is negatively impacting the economics of hydrogen. Other hurdles include preserving hydrogen purity during transportation, reducing the risk of leaks, and improving energy efficiency. To fully realise the potential of the hydrogen market, these significant obstacles in distribution and storage will need to be addressed.

Session Panelists:

Yves Vercammen

Chief Corporate Officer

TES-H2

Ulrika Wising

SVP Energy Transition and Member of Executive Committee

Vallourec

Evgeny Fedotov

SVP, Europe, Middle East and Africa

AVEVA

Dr Daniel Teichmann

CEO & Founder

Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies

Leadership Interview

Session Location: ICC Hall

Clean hydrogen will play an important role in realising a global net-zero emission energy system. Countries with abundant low-cost renewable resources, water access, and favourable capital have a strategic advantage to emerge as significant producers and exporters of green hydrogen and its derivatives. To foster market creation, growth and facilitate international trade, it is essential to establish globally recognised hydrogen standards, regulations and certification mechanisms. Collaborative efforts between governments, the private sector and international organizations will be pivotal in developing hydrogen certification and advancing the transition to a sustainable hydrogen economy.

Session Panelist:

Daria Nochevnik

Director for Policy and Partnerships

Hydrogen Council

Leadership Interview

Session Location: ICC Hall

Transitioning from a linear to a circular hydrogen economy is crucial for the energy industry to achieve its net-zero goals, and necessitates addressing challenges across the value chain, such as waste management, infrastructure scalability, cost, safety, and environmental concerns. For a sustainable hydrogen circular economy, business models need to be developed by forging partnerships, with policy support playing an essential role in widescale deployment. In addition, coordinating circular value chains through data exchange, and utilising trucks and pipelines for storage and transmission can accelerate wider adoption of the circular economy model.