If the three record-busting low solar price tariffs recorded in the Middle East in the past 18 months are to be believed, renewables-powered hydrogen in prime sites in the region could already compete with gas-plus-CCS production

Indeed, if they are to be believed. I, for one, don't especially believe them.

That needs qualification. I believe that tenders have been bid at prices below two cents per kWh. I just don't believe that that means what the proponents of the "solar power is getting super-cheap" school would like it to mean.

If you look at the most recent cost figures from the EIA on the capital cost for single-axis grid-scale solar PV systems ($2.11 / watt AC) with a 20-year life span and annual production of 2200 kWh per rated kW capacity, then the minimum LCOE works out to 4.8 cents per kWh with a 0% cost of capital. That's exclusive of the cost of land and any O&M costs during the 20-year life span. Include realistic values for those and a 6% discount rate, and the LCOE come out more like 10 cents per kWh. And that's for as available power at an average 25% capacity factor. Enough storage capacity to bring availability up to 90% in a low-latitude always-sunny region will likely add another 5 to 10 cents per kWh. That level of availability is more or less necessary to amortize the cost of the electrolyzers. 

An honest LCOE of 15 to 20 cents per kWh is not going to deliver green hydrogen that's even remotely competitive with blue.