Developing a sustainable roadmap in KSA through the utilization of hydrogen energy

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been reported to have one of the highest energy consumers per capita in the world. As a result, the rapid increase in carbon dioxide emissions due to population growth has been a major challenge facing the country over the past years. Utilisation of hydrogen energy is seen as a sustainable potential to fulfil the energy needs of the country without pollution consequences. Hydrogen is known as an energy carrier that can fulfil the global energy demand due to its attractive properties, such as being storable, transportable and safe. This can normally be used as fuel in Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell, which is an electrochemical device that converts the chemical reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to electrical energy. Production of hydrogen can be achieved through many resources, both conventional and
renewable. In this paper the hydrogen production potential sources to achieve a sustainable development in the country are highlighted and the environmental and economical benefits for utilising this energy in two sectors (electricity generation and transport) are analysed.