Large-Scale Export/Import of Liquid Hydrogen

Export terminals at the Port of Duqm are part of an integrated hydrogen ecosystem envisioned for development in Oman by Hydrom [1]. (Credit: Oman Observer)

I was recently asked to provide feedback on the Oman-Europe liquid hydrogen corridor initiative by the global director of hydrogen at a leading multinational manufacturer of LH2 systems. Thought this might be of interest to others in the the hydrogen community. Below are the questions posed (in bold italic) along with my responses.

Oman recently signed an agreement to develop a liquefied hydrogen corridor connecting the Sultanate with the Netherlands and Germany—marking the world’s first commercial corridor for exporting liquefied hydrogen. What is your assessment of Oman’s move, and how do you view the prospects for the success of this global liquid hydrogen export corridor?

Oman establishing itself as a source of liquid hydrogen (LH2) export will provide an early mover competitive advantage as more countries attempt to follow their lead. They will also benefit from the lessons learned by demonstration shipping of LH2 from Australia to Japan a few years ago. Other inherent strengths include high solar radiation resources; low-cost available real estate for expansion of solar power plants; and established natural gas infrastructure and workforce. Oman also has abundant access to seawater and methane feedstocks for producing hydrogen.

One of the most critical determinants of success is the establishment of key import trade partners. The Netherlands and Germany are ideal partners for Oman due to already existing shipping trade, including liquefied natural gas (LNG); a high energy demand but low seasonal insolation; and established and growing uptake of hydrogen in multiple market sectors. Other success factors will also be in play such as patient large capital investments for the required infrastructure build out (e.g., sovereign wealth funds). Altogether, these factors result in a high prospect for success given sufficient time to evolve.

Which method is more cost-effective: exporting liquefied hydrogen via specialized tankers or transporting it through gas pipelines?

Both methods are needed, and the most cost-effective approach depends upon the specific scenario. Natural gas is perhaps the closest analogue to the export and distribution of hydrogen. Liquefied form is best for long distance export and for customers who need it delivered as a liquid for their use cases [2]. Gaseous form is more suited for regional or national distribution for other use cases, including blending in existing natural gas pipelines.

A potential synergistic overlap between the two that is often overlooked is the ability to generate high pressure gas using LH2 with reduced or eliminated use of compressors. This has been commonly done in the cryogenics industry for decades in the form of “pressure building” systems and effectively recovers some of the energy used for liquefaction. Various other methods of improving overall system efficiency with heat exchangers that exploit the cooling capacity of LH2 are also common in well-designed systems [3].

Could other Arab countries follow Oman’s lead in entering the liquefied hydrogen export market?

Many Arab countries share some or all the strengths previously mentioned for Oman and are similarly positioned to exploit LH2 export opportunities. For most countries in the Middle East, hydrogen represents an ideal strategic transition from oil and gas production as most of the global community targets reductions in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion processes.

Hydrogen systems are already common in many chemical and oil processing plants. The skillsets, workforce, and infrastructure overlaps result in a very competitive position for Arab countries with a long history in these industries to exploit hydrogen export opportunities. And the customers will be the same as the legacy energy paradigm over time as the transition to hydrogen continues.

References

[1] Conrad Prabhu, Major firms join Oman-Europe Liquid H2 Corridor project, Apr 17, 2025.
[2] Decarbonizing Mobility with Liquid Hydrogen, SAE Research Report, 2024.
[3] Liquid Hydrogen Systems Course, 2025.

Author Bio

Matt Moran is the Managing Member at Moran Innovation LLC, and previous Managing Partner at Isotherm Energy. He's been developing power and propulsion systems for more than 40 years; and first-of-a-kind gas, slush, and liquid hydrogen systems since the mid-1980s. Matt was also the Sector Manager for Energy & Materials in his final position at NASA where he worked for 31 years. He's been a cofounder in seven technology-based startups; and provided R&D, engineering, and innovation consulting to several hundred organizations. Matt has three patents and more than 50 publications including his online Cryogenic Fluid Management guide and Decarbonizing Mobility with Liquid Hydrogen SAE report. He has created and taught liquid hydrogen courses, webinars, and workshops to global audiences.