NEOM Green Hydrogen Co. (NGHC), one of the flagship initiatives of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious NEOM project, is not only building the world’s largest hydrogen production plant but also positioning itself to become a global leader in the clean energy sector. Wesam Al-Ghamdi, CEO of NGHC, shared the company’s broader objectives during an interview at the Saudi Green Initiative Forum.
The Saudi Arabia project suits the country’s Vision 2030, especially as far as its decarbonization target and economic transformation goals, according to Al-Ghamdi. This hydrogen plant will start production in December 2026. The plant will yield an average of 1.2 million tons of ammonia annually. This will remove around the emissions equivalent to carbon emissions made by 22,000 heavy trucks and thus could save up to 5 million tonnes of CO2. Overall, apart from environmental gain, the project will contribute to the advancement of local skills and eventually areas of industries related to hydrogen production in Saudi Arabia.
One of the defining features of the project is scale and sustainability. The whole plant will be powered with renewable energy from solar and wind resources. It will have a 2.2-gigawatt electrolyzer to ensure continuous hydrogen production. So far, more than 60 percent of the key infrastructure is completed, including the hydrogen processing plant, solar facility, and wind farm.
Al-Ghamdi reported that all major equipment, including electrolyzers, hydrogen storage systems, and ammonia tanks, has been installed, which brings the project closer to its operational milestone.
Besides infrastructure development, NGHC focuses on enhancing its operational capabilities through the recruitment of competent personnel and collaboration with educational institutions to develop a local talent pool. The company is also establishing a Hydrogen Innovation Development Center, which will run a test electrolyzer to refine production processes and train engineers before full-scale operations begin.
The key success factor for NGHC has been strategic partnerships. The company has signed research and development collaboration agreements with Thyssenkrupp, manufacturing agreements for hydrogen compressors with Baker Hughes, and ammonia plant technology collaboration agreements with Topsoe. One of the significant achievements of the project is the 30-year offtake agreement signed with Air Products. Under this agreement, hydrogen produced by NGHC will be converted into ammonia for easier global transportation, especially for heavy transport and industrial sectors.
Al-Ghamdi emphasizes that this project is more than an industrial effort; it represents a blue print for massive hydrogen production that will set global standards. This ambitious venture for Saudi Arabia will position it at the head of the world’s hydrogen economy.
