Energy, Sedaoui (UNESCWA-UN): “Hydrogen can compete with gas but not in all sectors”

Cairo – “Hydrogen is a potential decarbonization pathway, and, technically speaking, there are several similarities between hydrogen and natural gas, specifically in the business model and on a technical level. We built and started the gas industry. We can obviously learn from that experience and duplicate it in the hydrogen industry. However, when we talk about hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas, it is important to emphasize that hydrogen is highly capital-intensive and, at the technical level, cannot replace natural gas in all aspects. Hydrogen is not an energy source but a form of energy transport. This is important to highlight,” said Radia Sedaoui, head of the Energy Section, Sustainable Development Policy Division of UNESCWA, the Economic and Social Commission for West Asia, during CSEW, the Cairo Sustainable Energy Week underway in Cairo.

“In addition, from a technical point of view, even natural gas as a business model needs proof that it is a sustainable transition as a fuel for the coming decades. Therefore, for hydrogen, we expect a market that can compete with natural gas, particularly in the transportation and petrochemical sectors, but not necessarily in all sectors. Natural gas has different options and possibilities for use in various markets, including industry. So, we cannot compare the two directly. Certainly, hydrogen is an alternative fuel among the different types of fuels we need to consider as we plan the energy transition path,” she continued.