Professor Andreas Poullikkas was featured in an in-depth interview on Sky News Arabia on 4th September 2025, discussing groundbreaking research on the Eastern Mediterranean's potential to become a major hydrogen production and export hub.

During the interview, Professor Poullikkas highlighted the region’s unique strategic advantages that position it favorably in the global hydrogen market. These include its proximity to Europe’s hydrogen-importing markets, which enables shorter and more cost-effective shipping routes, as well as the region’s abundant renewable energy resources, including some of the world’s highest solar irradiance and strong coastal winds. Additionally, the area possesses significant natural gas reserves which can serve as feedstock for both blue and green hydrogen production pathways.

The research emphasizes that coordinated regional cooperation and targeted investments could multiply economic and energy benefits. The region is positioned to deliver competitive hydrogen costs and meet rising European demand by 2050. The comprehensive mathematical models developed at Frederick University's H2Zero Research Unit forecast significant growth in hydrogen production, job creation, and export revenue, provided countries leverage shared infrastructure and harmonize their energy strategies.

The original interview was conducted in Arabic and can be accessed here. 

For transparency and wider accessibility, an English transcript of the interview is provided below:

Question: Professor why do you believe the region has such a significant opportunity in the hydrogen market?

Answer: The Eastern Mediterranean combines strategic geography, abundant resources, and existing energy infrastructure in a way that positions the region to become a regional hydrogen hub. First, its proximity to Europe's largest hydrogen-importing markets means shorter and lower-cost shipping routes compared to other potential hydrogen suppliers. Second, the region benefits from some of the world's highest solar irradiance and strong coastal winds, providing the renewable electricity needed to drive green hydrogen electrolysis at scale and low cost.

Also, large proven natural-gas reserves, 2,400 billion cubic meters regionally, including Cyprus's 400 billion cubic meters, offer a bridge fuel for blue hydrogen via steam-methane reforming while carbon-capture infrastructure is developed. Finally, existing LNG terminals can be retrofitted for hydrogen or ammonia export, accelerating market entry. Combined, these factors enable rapid cost reduction, and our modeling shows hydrogen costs falling 66 percent by 2060 to under $2 per kilogram. This synergy of location, resources and infrastructure makes the Eastern Mediterranean region an attractive hydrogen supplier.

Question: The Eastern Mediterranean countries currently have projects and plans to export natural gas and electricity. Do you think shifting their focus to hydrogen projects would be more valuable for them?

Answer: Rather than abandoning natural gas and electricity exports, the region should pursue a complementary, phased approach that maximizes all energy assets simultaneously. Natural gas serves as a crucial "bridge fuel" that generates immediate revenue to fund hydrogen infrastructure while providing feedstock for blue hydrogen production. For example, our modeling shows that Cyprus can allocate 80% of gas production for exports while converting 20% to hydrogen by 2050.

The electricity interconnection projects enhance hydrogen potential by providing grid stability for renewable-powered electrolysis and creating multiple revenue streams from the same infrastructure. Countries can export electricity during peak renewable generation periods and use excess capacity for hydrogen production during low-demand hours. This integrated approach reduces financial risk through diversification while building the technical expertise and international partnerships essential for hydrogen market success. The phased transition allows countries to capture immediate economic benefits from gas exports while systematically building hydrogen capabilities, ultimately achieving higher long-term value than any single-fuel strategy could provide.

Question: Professor Poullikkas your study highlights the need to invest in infrastructure. Do you think the countries in the region will be able to secure those investments? And why do you think it is very important to work on regional synergies?

Answer: Indeed, the infrastructure investment requirements are substantial. Our model shows $15-25 billion for comprehensive regional development. But this is entirely achievable given the economic returns and strategic importance to European energy security. We expect that these investments will generate 25,000-40,000 construction jobs and 8,000-12,000 permanent positions. More importantly, the projects promise $15-35 billion in annual export revenue at full regional capacity.

Now coming to the second part of your question. Regional synergies are absolutely critical because our research demonstrates a 10-fold multiplier effect compared to individual country efforts. Shared infrastructure dramatically reduces per-unit costs. For example, a regional pipeline network serves multiple gas fields more efficiently than separate national systems, risk diversification across multiple countries reduces individual financial exposure while creating stronger negotiating positions with European buyers, and technical expertise sharing accelerates deployment timelines. Without regional cooperation, individual countries face higher costs, longer development timelines, and greater market risks. Egypt's processing capacity, Cyprus's EU market access, and Israel's technological expertise become much more powerful when combined than when deployed separately.

Question: There is currently a concern in the hydrogen market regarding its high cost. Do you think the Eastern Mediterranean countries could produce it at a competitive price?

Answer: The Eastern Mediterranean possesses unique advantages that enable highly competitive hydrogen pricing. Our modeling shows dramatic cost reductions with a 66% decline in hydrogen production costs by 2060, falling below $2 per kilogram after 2050, with system-wide averages reaching $1.78 per kilogram by 2060. Several factors drive this competitive advantage.

First, natural gas provides feedstock for blue hydrogen at prices well below European and Asian alternatives. Second, exceptional solar and wind resources enable renewable electricity generation at lowest costs, which is crucial for green hydrogen electrolysis. Also, large-scale development creates economies of scale that individual projects cannot achieve. Finally, existing energy infrastructure reduces capital requirements compared to greenfield developments elsewhere.
The region also benefits from strategic timing advantages, such as Egypt's depleted gas reservoirs providing low-cost carbon sequestration for blue hydrogen, and European hydrogen demand growing rapidly. For example, Europe will need more than 10 million tonnes of imported hydrogen by 2030.

Question: What is Egypt's role in this cycle?

Answer: Egypt serves as the regional hydrogen hub due to its unique combination of processing capacity and export infrastructure. The country's existing LNG terminals at Damietta and Idku can be retrofitted for hydrogen or ammonia exports, providing immediate access to European and Asian markets. Egypt can process Israeli and Cypriot gas for hydrogen conversion while utilizing depleted natural gas reservoirs for carbon dioxide sequestration essential to blue hydrogen production.

Also, Egypt's large domestic market can provide crucial demand stability during the hydrogen economy's early phases. For example, Egypt's industrial sector, particularly steel and ammonia production, can absorb initial hydrogen output while export markets develop, reducing project risks and improving economics.

Question: Professor, currently, Cyprus, Egypt, and Israel have confirmed natural gas reserves, but some research suggests potential reserves in Syria and Lebanon. Do you think these countries could be part of the hydrogen economy in the region?

Answer: Syria's and Lebanon potential natural gas reserves represent substantial resources. However, ongoing political instability in Syria and regulatory uncertainty in both countries create investment risks that must be addressed before major energy infrastructure development becomes feasible. The pragmatic approach focuses initially on countries such as Cyprus, Egypt, and Israel, while maintaining frameworks for future Syrian and Lebanese integration as conditions improve.

Both Syria and Lebanon would strengthen the regional hydrogen economy's scale and diversity once political and regulatory conditions stabilize. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) could provide a long-term infrastructural and trade backbone for scaling hydrogen exports, linking Eastern Mediterranean producers with European demand centers. Let me conclude by saying that, the key is to develop inclusive regional frameworks that can accommodate these countries when they're ready while proceeding with committed partners in the meantime.