Abstract

The United Nations' sustainability goals have emerged as a crucial roadmap for monitoring decarbonization efforts. Oman's strategic focus lies in the realm of hydrogen, particularly Green Hydrogen, which harnesses renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Projections suggest that in the coming years, Oman could become one of the world's major hydrogen exporters, given its ample potential for harnessing high-quality renewable energy and its expansive land resources. The primary objective of this research is to scrutinize the social and socio-economic implications across the entire life cycle of Green Hydrogen in Oman, using the Social Life Cycle Assessment tool (SLCA). The SLCA comprises four primary phases: Goal and Scope, Inventory Analysis, Social Impact Assessment, and Interpretation Analysis. In the initial phase, the assessment's goals were delineated. Subsequently, an inventory analysis was conducted, systematically modeling the process of hydrogen production and identifying input and output inventory components. To assess social impacts, a combination of literature analysis and questionnaires was employed to generate a matrix encompassing all the social considerations relevant to the Green Hydrogen life cycle in Oman. This matrix, in turn, facilitated the final phase of Interpretation Analysis, where the identification of critical social factors requiring attention. The findings of this study underscore the efficacy of the SLCA as an essential tool for assessing the Green Hydrogen life cycle in Oman. Yet, it is crucial to acknowledge that various challenges still need to be addressed to advance the cause of sustainable hydrogen development in the region.