Simulation study of wind energy potential for green hydrogen production in different cities in the Middle East region

The Middle East faces a pressing need to transition from fossil fuel dependency to sustainable energy systems, driven by global decarbonization goals and the region’s arid climate, which poses challenges for water-intensive green hydrogen production. This study addresses the critical demand for clean energy alternatives by evaluating the potential of wind-driven green hydrogen production to support economic diversification and environmental sustainability in alignment with initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Utilizing the System Advisor Model (SAM) software, the research assesses a 50 MW wind farm, for various wind turbine technologies across selected 17 cities in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, integrating site-specific Weibull parameters, electrolyzer performance, and economic factors. The findings reveal significant potential, with El-Mokha, Yemen, achieving the lowest cost of energy at 0.01 $/kWh and producing 7225.65 tons of green hydrogen, while Haql, Saudi Arabia, follows closely with 6234.34 tons at a cost of 6.62 $/kg. Coastal cities outperform inland locations like Nasiriyah, Iraq, which recorded a higher cost of 0.07 $/kWh and only 1319.84 tons of hydrogen, highlighting the influence of wind resources and turbine design on efficiency. As a result, the study positions the Middle East, particularly its coastal regions, as a viable green hydrogen hub, capable of leveraging abundant wind resources and strategic locations to contribute to global clean energy markets while advancing regional sustainability goals.