Techno-enviro-economic assessment and export feasibility of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Saudi Arabia: Site-scale optimization and national atlas development

Mohamed Nasser; Abdullah Al-Sharafi; Abdulrahman S. Al-Buraiki; Bekir Sami Yilbas

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.157049

Techno-enviro-economic assessment and export feasibility of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Saudi Arabia: Site-scale optimization and national atlas development

Mohamed Nasser
, Abdullah Al-Sharafi^*
, Abdulrahman S. Al-Buraiki
, Bekir Sami Yilbas

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Green hydrogen and ammonia provide technologically mature pathways to replace fossil fuels and mitigate CO₂ emissions. In this context, the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Saudi Arabia is investigated. A mathematical model is developed in MATLAB, with fixed annual demands for hydrogen and ammonia to ensure consistent comparison. Jubail Industrial City is examined with three configurations, PV, wind, and hybrid, yielding minimum LCOH and LCOA values of 5.8 $/kg_H2 and 921 $/t_NH3 for the hybrid layout. The optimal hybrid design in Jubail consists of 1220 MW PV, 192.5 MW wind, and 270 tons of hydrogen storage. Furthermore, the framework is extended to construct a Green Ammonia Atlas for the Kingdom, revealing pronounced spatial variability in LCOA (883–1209 $/t_NH3). The export feasibility is assessed, with cost ranging from 999 to 1070 $/t_NH3 in Europe and 1007–1043 $/t_NH3 for shipments to Asia.

Original language	English
Article number	157049
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	267
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.157049
State	Published - 10 Sep 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Clean energy
Climate action
Export feasibility
Green atlas
Hydrogen storage and utilization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Condensed Matter Physics
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.157049

Cite this

@article{360b721db43345139cddd7b1a08f9516,

title = "Techno-enviro-economic assessment and export feasibility of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Saudi Arabia: Site-scale optimization and national atlas development",

abstract = "Green hydrogen and ammonia provide technologically mature pathways to replace fossil fuels and mitigate CO2 emissions. In this context, the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Saudi Arabia is investigated. A mathematical model is developed in MATLAB, with fixed annual demands for hydrogen and ammonia to ensure consistent comparison. Jubail Industrial City is examined with three configurations, PV, wind, and hybrid, yielding minimum LCOH and LCOA values of 5.8 \$/kgH2 and 921 \$/tNH3 for the hybrid layout. The optimal hybrid design in Jubail consists of 1220 MW PV, 192.5 MW wind, and 270 tons of hydrogen storage. Furthermore, the framework is extended to construct a Green Ammonia Atlas for the Kingdom, revealing pronounced spatial variability in LCOA (883{\textendash}1209 \$/tNH3). The export feasibility is assessed, with cost ranging from 999 to 1070 \$/tNH3 in Europe and 1007{\textendash}1043 \$/tNH3 for shipments to Asia.",

keywords = "Clean energy, Climate action, Export feasibility, Green atlas, Hydrogen storage and utilization",

author = "Mohamed Nasser and Abdullah Al-Sharafi and Al-Buraiki, \{Abdulrahman S.\} and Yilbas, \{Bekir Sami\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.",

year = "2026",

month = sep,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.157049",

language = "English",

volume = "267",

journal = "International Journal of Hydrogen Energy",

issn = "0360-3199",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

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Techno-enviro-economic assessment and export feasibility of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Saudi Arabia: Site-scale optimization and national atlas development. / Nasser, Mohamed ; Al-Sharafi, Abdullah; Al-Buraiki, Abdulrahman S. et al.
In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 267, 157049, 10.09.2026.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Techno-enviro-economic assessment and export feasibility of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Saudi Arabia

T2 - Site-scale optimization and national atlas development

AU - Nasser, Mohamed

AU - Al-Sharafi, Abdullah

AU - Al-Buraiki, Abdulrahman S.

AU - Yilbas, Bekir Sami

PY - 2026/9/10

Y1 - 2026/9/10

N2 - Green hydrogen and ammonia provide technologically mature pathways to replace fossil fuels and mitigate CO2 emissions. In this context, the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Saudi Arabia is investigated. A mathematical model is developed in MATLAB, with fixed annual demands for hydrogen and ammonia to ensure consistent comparison. Jubail Industrial City is examined with three configurations, PV, wind, and hybrid, yielding minimum LCOH and LCOA values of 5.8 $/kgH2 and 921 $/tNH3 for the hybrid layout. The optimal hybrid design in Jubail consists of 1220 MW PV, 192.5 MW wind, and 270 tons of hydrogen storage. Furthermore, the framework is extended to construct a Green Ammonia Atlas for the Kingdom, revealing pronounced spatial variability in LCOA (883–1209 $/tNH3). The export feasibility is assessed, with cost ranging from 999 to 1070 $/tNH3 in Europe and 1007–1043 $/tNH3 for shipments to Asia.

AB - Green hydrogen and ammonia provide technologically mature pathways to replace fossil fuels and mitigate CO2 emissions. In this context, the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Saudi Arabia is investigated. A mathematical model is developed in MATLAB, with fixed annual demands for hydrogen and ammonia to ensure consistent comparison. Jubail Industrial City is examined with three configurations, PV, wind, and hybrid, yielding minimum LCOH and LCOA values of 5.8 $/kgH2 and 921 $/tNH3 for the hybrid layout. The optimal hybrid design in Jubail consists of 1220 MW PV, 192.5 MW wind, and 270 tons of hydrogen storage. Furthermore, the framework is extended to construct a Green Ammonia Atlas for the Kingdom, revealing pronounced spatial variability in LCOA (883–1209 $/tNH3). The export feasibility is assessed, with cost ranging from 999 to 1070 $/tNH3 in Europe and 1007–1043 $/tNH3 for shipments to Asia.

KW - Clean energy

KW - Climate action

KW - Export feasibility

KW - Green atlas

KW - Hydrogen storage and utilization

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105047843922

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.157049

DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.157049

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105047843922

SN - 0360-3199

VL - 267

JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

M1 - 157049

ER -

Techno-enviro-economic assessment and export feasibility of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Saudi Arabia: Site-scale optimization and national atlas development

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this