CEBC AND SHFCA ANNOUNCE MOU TO PROMOTE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SCOTLAND AND MENA IN HYDROGEN

The Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) and the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This agreement will stimulate cooperation between Scotland and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies.

The MOU defines various areas for collaboration between the Scottish and MENA sectors. Such collaboration will foster an environment for identifying opportunities for joint industry and research projects, supporting the development of hydrogen hubs, exchanging market intelligence and best practices for codes and standards, and addressing and overcoming common barriers to production, distribution, and storage of hydrogen.

Scotland is a country with high ambitions when it comes to reducing carbon emissions. There is a very considerable opportunity for Scotland to achieve a major hydrogen and fuel cell economy if significant increases in R&D support are provided in accord with investments for competitors such as Japan, the US, and Germany.

The MENA region currently has the most hydrogen initiatives for export purposes worldwide. As part of the region’s efforts to combat climate change and achieve climate neutrality, the MENA countries have taken bold steps in developing their hydrogen markets. In recent years, MENA countries have formed new international partnerships, introduced hydrogen strategies, and launched pilot projects for low-carbon hydrogen. With Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announcing their commitment to net-zero by 2060, 2060, and 2050 respectively, ensuring that these commitments translate into concrete steps towards securing a net-zero future is paramount. Another important milestone for the region is the announcement that Egypt will be hosting COP27, and the UAE will host COP28, which further supports MENA’s climate change and climate neutrality objectives.

“Fantastic to witness the collaboration and strong links between Scotland and the UAE in clean energy, demonstrated by the signing of an MOU between the Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) and The Scottish Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA). I am sure that this will be the first of many collaborations to come” says Minister Ivan McKee, Scottish Government Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism, and Enterprise.

“The CEBC is committed to accelerating the clean energy transition in the MENA region. The MENA region has immense potential to become a global leader in hydrogen production, which would not only accelerate the drive towards the region to meet its own emission reduction targets but also become a major exporter of clean energy. We are delighted to collaborate with SHFCA to enable exchange and trade opportunities between the MENA region and Scotland” says Mhairi Main Garcia, Vice-chair of the CEBC and Partner at Dentons.

“This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Clean Energy Business Council and The Scottish Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association is an important milestone for all of our members and will help us all to build on the SDI-led Hydrogen Mission to the UAE. This MoU will enable us to share news and relevant experience between members of both organizations, sharing information and the important lessons from the early deployment of hydrogen technologies in our respective regions.”

About the Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC)
Middle East Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting clean energy including renewables, energy efficiency, smart grid, energy storage, and clean energy technology and solutions for the environmental sector. Established in 2008 by a group of leading institutions, companies, and individuals who recognized the potential for a clean energy revolution in the MENA region, the CEBC creates a forum for stakeholders to come together to exchange ideas, share information and facilitate projects. CEBC provides a platform to further dialogue between the public and private sectors to develop much-needed policy and regulations to help drive the implementation of clean energy across the MENA region.  Website: https://www.cebcmena.com/

About the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA)
The Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA) was established in 2004 to promote and develop expertise in fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. Now with over 150 members, SHFCA has a very broad membership base, reflecting the increasing awareness of how Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technologies can enable renewables to deliver a Net Zero energy system. A primary objective for SHFCA is to help our members to develop and deliver projects linked to the key market opportunity areas with transport, stationary power, and energy storage linked to renewables. Website: http://www.shfca.org.uk