Toyota Motor Corporation will explore the potential of hydrogen energy use in the UAE for the creation of a low-carbon society.

The Toyota corporation announced its agreement with Masdar, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Air Liquide, and Toyota distributor Al Futtaim Motors at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) in Abu Dhabi on Monday. As part of the programme, Toyota will begin driving and refueling demonstration tests of the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, FCV, in the UAE from May. The programme partners will jointly research on key issues involving the establishment of a hydrogen-based society, including hydrogen production, logistics, scalability, and business feasibility.

This collaborative research programme will explore the potential for hydrogen usage in Masdar City, a low carbon neighbourhood in Abu Dhabi. Utilising a hydrogen station to be built in May, Toyota will conduct a complete range of driving and refuelling tests under extreme heat, dust, and other conditions specific to the local environment. Toyota will also provide short-term leases to UAE government institutions and opinion leaders to promote better understanding of FCVs and hydrogen-based societies. “The UAE has excess capacity at hydrogen production facilities located at oil refineries, and the ability to produce hydrogen as a by-product at caustic soda and other factories, not to mention the production potential from mega solar power stations,” said Takeshi Uchiyamada, chairman of the board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, at the Abu Dhabi Global Action Day at ADSW. The UAE government is currently promoting a new national agenda, UAE Vision 2021, which prioritises air quality improvement, and expansion of the use of clean energies among others. Mohammed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, said: “Hydrogen can make an important contribution towards the UAE’s target for a 50 per cent low carbon energy mix by 2050.”