RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has launched a strategic value chain to export green hydrogen and renewable energy to Europe, marking a major step in its efforts to become a global clean energy hub. The move was formalized on Sunday as ACWA Power signed a series of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with leading international partners during a high-level workshop in Riyadh. Held under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy and attended by Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen Export Workshop brought together top officials from Saudi Arabia, Greece, France, and Germany, as well as executives from global energy firms and national institutions. The agreements aim to establish a robust framework for developing large-scale renewable energy projects in the Kingdom dedicated to export, and to create transmission corridors linking Saudi Arabia and Europe. The initiative is also part of the Kingdom's leading role in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), reinforcing its strategic position connecting East and West. A multi-party MoU was signed between ACWA Power and major European firms, including Edison S.p.A. (Italy), TotalEnergies Renewables SAS (France), Zhero Europe B.V. (Netherlands), and EnBW (Germany), to assess market demand and technical feasibility for electricity exports. Additional MoUs were signed with HVDC cable and transmission specialists such as CESI, Prysmian, GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, and Hitachi to support infrastructure development across borders. A Joint Development Agreement was also concluded with Germany's EnBW to collaborate on the Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub, which is set to begin operations in 2030. The project will be a fully integrated complex with renewable energy generation, desalination, electrolysis, ammonia conversion, and a dedicated export terminal.
