Letter on hydrogen: A return to the old, new blueprint

Saudi Aramco’s blue hydrogen progress is a clear reminder that energy companies pivoting in search of greater returns may not be throwing the H₂ baby out with the bathwater

Headlines suggest hydrogen-pioneering European energy firms such as BP, Equinor, TotalEnergies and Shell are in full-scale retreat. However, Saudi Aramco, the clear bellwether in oil, sees an opportunity to be the standout leader in producing the more challenging molecule.  The solution is always what it has been: blue, not green. Blue hydrogen, produced by breaking down natural gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, fits with an oil and gas company’s core business because companies such as Aramco can capture and store the CO₂, effectively providing a low-carbon solution at costs that do not break the bank. Hydrogen can also by synthesised with nitrogen to provide blue ammonia, a cheaper and