It is essential that the roles for nuclear energy are set out and assessed clearly, with the acknowledgement that they will not be adopted unless they are part of an optimised solution. It is also essential that similarly objective assessment mechanisms are applied to all decarbonisation options.

To limit dangerous global warming and achieve net zero by 2050, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says the water power sector will need to double in size to 2,600GW.

A new “Hydrogen Alliance” was launched by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and three of Abu Dhabi’s largest government-backed companies (Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, and ADQ) in January 2021

UK strategy would take a "twin-track approach", she said. "It would not be blue or green, but both. Blue gives us volume as well as investment."

The UAE is investing in various hydrogen projects as the Gulf state seeks to capitalize on the global appetite for green energy products as the energy transition trend gains momentum.

RWE and BASF are considering developing a new 2 GW offshore wind project in the German North Sea,

Siemens Energy, in collaboration with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Expo 2020 Dubai, has inaugurated the first industrial scale, solar-driven green hydrogen facility in the Middle East and North Africa.

"So that the hydrogen produced by electrolysis is low carbon, it is necessary to use electricity that is 'green' - from renewable energy - or 'yellow' - from nuclear power,"

Green hydrogen is produced from renewable energy, while blue hydrogen is derived from fossil fuels with carbon capture, utilization and storage.

Pumped hydro energy storage constitutes 99% of global storage energy.

The civil works contract is worth US$355m and full commissioning is scheduled in mid-2024.

The gist of the technical case for CCS in a hydrogen economy is that, so long as fossil fuels are available and deliver a high energy return on energy invested (EROEI), it is inherently cheaper and more efficient to produce hydrogen from fossil fuels by reforming, rather than by electrolysis of water.

The EU has made green and digital the two pillars of its recovery plan, aiming to strengthen its leadership in the global fight against climate change, boost innovation and reduce dependence on imports of critical materials.

On 8 July last year, the European Commission adopted the EU Hydrogen Strategy, which sets out how hydrogen can support the decarbonisation of industry, transport, power generation and buildings.

Russia’s Rosatom and France’e EDF on 26 April signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop green hydrogen in Russia and Europe.