Seven countries with abundant sun and wind discover Belgium’s green hydrogen sector

From 29 June to 3 July 2026, our FPS, in collaboration with the Egmont Institute, organised a training course focused on exchanging expertise on green hydrogen. Participants came from countries with significant potential to produce green hydrogen. In this way, our FPS is contributing to the green energy transition and more energy self-sufficiency.

The European Union (EU) remains firmly committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. Such an objective can only be achieved through a comprehensive green energy transition.
 

A powerful energy carrier

Green hydrogen could become a key component of the future energy mix. Among other methods, the gas can be produced by ‘electrolysis’: an electric current splits water (H_₂O) into hydrogen (H_₂) and oxygen (O_₂). To be considered truly ‘green’, this electricity must come from renewable sources (sun, wind, etc.).

Hydrogen is not only used as a raw material in the chemical industry; it is also an extremely powerful energy carrier: its ‘energy density’ is significantly higher than that of batteries. That means gas is perfectly suited to storing surplus energy generated during periods of abundant sunshine (solar panels) and wind (wind turbines).

Furthermore, it can be transported over long distances. Hydrogen is also an ideal fuel for transporting heavy goods. For example, the Belgian maritime company CMB.TECH – a leader in decarbonising maritime transport – has ordered several ships that run partly on hydrogen.

Green hydrogen is primarily seen as a solution for sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as the steel industry and certain forms of heavy transport (freight transport, shipping and possibly aviation).
 

Belgian Hydrogen Council

As with any new technology, hydrogen must overcome several obstacles before it can gain a foothold. For now, production costs remain very high, and we need investment in infrastructure, storage, and electrolysis equipment.

Many potential customers are reluctant to order large quantities of green hydrogen because it is significantly more expensive than ‘grey’ hydrogen, which is usually produced from natural gas.

Nevertheless, Belgium – and the EU – still believe in its potential. What’s more, our country is positioning itself as a veritable hub for green hydrogen. On the website of the umbrella organisation Belgian Hydrogen Council, you will discover that Belgium is surprisingly active in the hydrogen sector.

Thanks to our ports and shipping companies, for example, we have the ideal set-up for importing and transporting hydrogen. Our companies play a leading role in producing innovative components for electrolysis equipment, and we are home to world-leading companies that manufacture it. We have the expertise to build hydrogen engines and are researching new applications across various domains.
 

Special Envoy

Nevertheless, Belgium and Europe lack enough renewable energy to produce this green hydrogen. We need to rely on foreign partners in this regard: countries that do have abundant wind and solar power – or possibly other sources – to produce this green energy carrier. Namibia, for example, or Oman.

And that's where the FPS Foreign Affairs comes into the picture. Indeed, we are ideally positioned – together with the regional trade agencies - to make the necessary contacts and help Belgian companies find suitable partners abroad. For example, we initially supported the Belgian Hydrogen Council, among other things by organising a large Belgian stand at the annual World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam.

Furthermore, we play a prominent role in the drive towards greater autonomy in critical raw materials and energy. Since 2024, we even have a ‘Special Envoy for Critical Raw Materials and Energy Security’, who acts as a facilitator and coordinator for our energy diplomacy.

Port of Duqm

Our Belgian agency for international cooperation, Enabel, is also playing its part. In Namibia – where CMB.TECH is already investing in a port and a hydrogen academy – it is running technical training courses on green hydrogen and renewable energy in collaboration with its German counterpart, GIZ. As such, it is striving to better align education with the actual needs of the labour market in a country with high youth unemployment. Modernising ports also falls within Enabel’s area of expertise.

The FPS had already supported a visit by the Belgian royal couple to Oman in 2022, during which they inaugurated the port of Duqm, which will export green hydrogen in the future. A visit to Hyport was also on the agenda: a green hydrogen plant run by the Belgian company DEME in partnership with the Omani energy company OQ.
 

Diplomatic and technical profile

Our FPS also has expertise in forging and maintaining bonds. An initial contact may lay a solid foundation, but it requires substantial follow-up for the collaboration to bear fruit.

That is why, together with the Egmont Institute, we took the initiative to organise a training programme from 29 June to 3 July 2026 for representatives from the energy sector in seven countries: Brazil, Canada, Egypt, India, Morocco, Namibia, and Oman. The Egmont Institute organises these condensed training courses every year for the benefit of our FPS. This year, green hydrogen took centre stage.

Most countries were represented by two people: one with a more diplomatic background and the other with a technical background. Many of the participants work in government departments such as the Department of Energy.

At the ‘Exchange of Expertise on Green Hydrogen’ training session, participants gained clear insight into the Belgian hydrogen landscape, the Belgian and European strategies for green hydrogen, and the geopolitics of the hydrogen transition.

The Exchange also covered issues such as the European regulatory framework for green hydrogen and the international hydrogen market. Our FPS contributed to the debate with a presentation on Belgian energy diplomacy and our role within the European Global Gateway initiative.

Belgian trade missions to Morocco and Canada

The visits to leading Belgian companies and research institutions were also extremely fascinating. These included the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, CMB.TECH, Fluxys (hydrogen transport), Energyville (research to accelerate the energy transition) and John Cockerill Hydrogen (electrolysis and storage).

Through the training course, Belgian companies established contacts with promising partners. On the Belgian side, we also learnt how far along the various countries are in developing their hydrogen sectors.

The participants themselves expressed their satisfaction after the event, stating that they saw opportunities for future collaboration. With two Belgian trade missions to Morocco and Canada planned for 2027, there are great opportunities to build on this training programme and deepen our cooperation on hydrogen.

Our diplomatic missions abroad – embassies and consulates – also helped ensure the initiative was a success. After all, they did all the necessary groundwork to find suitable candidates. They will stay in touch with the participating diplomats and experts going forward. And, of course, they will continue to support Belgian companies in developing their partnerships in the hydrogen sector.