In a major step toward global decarbonization and energy integration, Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power has signed a series of strategic agreements with key European governments and energy players to develop a green hydrogen and renewable energy export value chain. The deals, finalized during a high-level ceremony in Riyadh, were attended by representatives from France, Germany, Greece, and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud.
The Green Hydrogen Export Ambition
At the center of the agreements is a shared ambition to establish large-scale renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia dedicated to the production and export of green hydrogen to Europe. This cooperation includes assessing market demand, technical feasibility, and infrastructure requirements to enable a secure and scalable supply chain.
Key participants in the hydrogen supply chain agreements include:
-
-
Edison (Italy)
-
TotalEnergies Renewables (France)
-
Zhero Europe (Italy/Netherlands)
-
EnBW (Germany)
-
According to Saur Energy, these companies signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with ACWA Power to jointly develop the necessary infrastructure and analyze market needs across Europe.
Flagship Project: Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub
One of the most tangible outcomes of these agreements is the joint development of the Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub, with German energy utility EnBW. The hub will integrate large-scale renewable energy production, desalination, electrolysis, ammonia conversion, and a dedicated export terminal. Commercial operations are projected to begin by 2030.
The Yanbu hub is expected to become one of the world’s largest green hydrogen facilities and represents a major step in ACWA Power’s ambition to lead the global green hydrogen market, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy.
Building Transmission Corridors: Middle East to Europe
In parallel, ACWA Power signed cooperation deals with several major players in the energy transmission and infrastructure sector to explore the development of electric power corridors connecting the Middle East and Europe.
Partners include:
-
-
CESI (Italy)
-
Prysmian Group (Italy)
-
GE Vernova (Germany)
-
Siemens Energy (Germany)
-
Hitachi Energy (France)
-
These agreements focus on feasibility studies and technical planning for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) infrastructure capable of transporting clean electricity from the Arabian Peninsula to European markets.
Strategic Integration: The IMEC Vision
The entire initiative aligns with the broader India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced during the 2023 G20 summit. This corridor envisions new energy and transport connectivity routes that span from India to Europe via the Middle East, providing an alternative to existing global trade routes and boosting energy diversification and security.
By integrating into IMEC, Saudi Arabia positions itself not only as a key energy supplier, but also as a strategic hub in future global supply chains of clean energy.
Next Steps
-
-
Detailed feasibility studies for hydrogen and power export projects.
-
Regulatory and permitting cooperation between Saudi and EU authorities.
-
Progress on the engineering and design of the Yanbu hydrogen hub.
-
First pilot routes for power transmission expected to be identified in 2026.
-
This milestone reflects a deepening Saudi-European commitment to climate goals and sets the foundation for a transcontinental clean energy corridor. As the world races toward net-zero targets, such partnerships may define the architecture of global energy flows in the 21st century.
