Opinion Economy Progress report on Vision 2030: so far, so good Saudi Arabia’s economic health is still reliant on global oil markets, but this dependency is reducing March 12, 2024
Renewable Energy Oman closer to solar goal with new Sohar factory United Solar Polysilicon has started work on a $1.3 billion polysilicon factory in Oman’s Sohar Port and Freezone, believed to be the first of its kind in the Middle East. Polysilicon, a high-purity form of silicon, is a key raw material in the production of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Operations at the 160,000-square-metre Sohar factory […] March 12, 2024
Renewable Energy Masdar opens solar energy plant in the Caribbean A hurricane-resistant solar power project developed by Abu Dhabi’s clean energy company Masdar for Antigua and Barbuda is now operational. Situated on Barbuda, the plant is designed to survive 265 km-per-hour winds and provide a safe and sustainable supply of electrical power for the island. The Green Barbuda project is part of the $50 million […] March 12, 2024
Energy Masdar to build solar plants for UAE defence ministry Abu Dhabi’s clean energy giant Masdar and the UAE defence ministry have agreed to develop multi-solar plants across Abu Dhabi. Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and France’s EDF Group, will provide a full turnkey solution for the projects for 25 years, including finance, design, procurement, construction, operations, and maintenance. No other project details were […] March 8, 2024
Energy Abu Dhabi moves ahead on new renewable project UAE state-owned Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) is seeking expressions of interest for the development of a greenfield 400-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) project. The BESS technology aims to diversify EWEC’s energy portfolio, as its total solar photovoltaic power generation capacity will reach 7.5 gigawatts by 2030, the UAE state-run Wam news agency […] March 8, 2024
Renewable Energy Neom to produce first green hydrogen this year, CEO says Saudi Arabia’s mega-city Neom is set to produce its first green hydrogen this year, a senior executive has confirmed. Wesam Alghamdi, chief executive of Neom Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC), told a conference in Dubai last week that the Hydrogen Innovation Development Centre will produce eight tonnes of green hydrogen a day on launch this year. […] March 5, 2024
Energy Hydrogen-producing nations told to put local use first Hydrogen-producing nations should put local use of the green fuel ahead of exports, a conference in Dubai has been told. Francesco La Camera, director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), said making hydrogen a major global export commodity is only a medium to long term prospect. Instead, he said, hydrogen-producing nations should follow […] March 4, 2024
Renewable Energy Masdar acquires 49% stake in UK’s offshore wind farms Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company Masdar has acquired a 49 percent stake in the 3-gigawatt (GW) Dogger Bank South (DBS) offshore wind farm project in the UK, as part of its global expansion drive. The acquisition is part of the planned £11 billion ($14 billion) joint investment with Germany’s renewables major RWE to support net-zero […] March 1, 2024
Renewable Energy EGA’s industrial data centres go green Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the UAE’s largest non-oil industrial company and one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, has broken ground on the first industrial data centres in the emirates to be totally powered by renewable energy. The two data centres in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah will be developed in collaboration with Scientechnic, a […] March 1, 2024
Energy Acwa Power explores renewables projects in China Saudi renewables major Acwa Power has started due diligence on up to eight projects in China, CEO Marco Arcelli said. “The first one will be announced in the coming few months,” he said in the company’s Q4 2023 financial statement. “2024 will be the first full year of execution for the new growth strategy with […] March 1, 2024
Renewable Energy Egypt signs $40bn deals to develop green energy sector Egypt has signed seven agreements with global companies to develop green hydrogen and renewable energy projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, with expected investments worth $40 billion over 10 years. Investment of nearly $12 billion is expected for a pilot phase, followed by another $29 billion for the first phase, the government’s information department […] February 29, 2024
Sustainability Turkey and Europe join up to promote carbon trading The European Energy Exchange (EEX) and Turkish energy bourse Enerji Piyasalari Isletme A.S (Epias) have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop carbon emissions trading in Turkey. “We look forward to working with Epias in creating a robust emissions trading system (ETS) in Turkey by providing our expertise in carbon markets,” said EEX chief executive […] February 29, 2024
Renewable Energy Masdar starts work on two UK battery storage projects Masdar Arlington Energy, a subsidiary of UAE’s Masdar, has started construction on two battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the UK. The Royle Barn Road plant in Rochdale and Welkin Road plant in Stockport will have a combined capacity of 55 MW and provide enough energy to power 25,700 homes. Masdar acquired UK-based Arlington Energy in […] February 28, 2024
Renewable Energy DP World and Masdar link up for project to decarbonise ports Two of the UAE’s biggest companies have formed a partnership that aims to decarbonise ports in the Middle East and Africa. Logistics group DP World has signed a three-year agreement with clean energy giant Masdar. Their initial focus will be on ports in Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Egypt. The companies will identify the best sites […] February 27, 2024
Sustainability UK’s Solent Cluster courts Gulf for green investment The Solent Cluster, a network of 114 companies with interests on the English south coast, is considering working with Gulf companies to deliver $15 billion of green investment. The group is prioritising decarbonisation and among its proposals are a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant for which Dubai’s national carrier Emirates and other airlines could become […] February 26, 2024
Energy Abu Dhabi plans decade of solar power launches Abu Dhabi is to launch a new solar power project each year for a decade, starting in 2027, Bruce Smith, strategy and planning executive director at the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), told AGBI. EWEC is also exploring the issuance of a green bond to finance this series of projects, he said. The company […] February 23, 2024
Renewable Energy Iraq plans push on solar and green hydrogen projects Iraq is planning to build solar plants and its first green hydrogen project as part of a strategy to tackle power shortages and reduce its carbon footprint. The country’s cabinet has approved a proposal to install 12 gigawatts (GW) of solar power by 2030, said a National Investment Commission representative, Rahim Al Jaafari. Projects capable […] February 22, 2024
Energy Turkey and China to build $600m energy storage facility Turkey’s Progresiva Energy Investments has struck a deal with China’s Harbin Electric International to build a $600 million electricity storage facility, according to a media report. The project will be one of Europe’s largest energy storage facilities, Daily Sabah newspaper reported, citing Progresiva’s vice president, Cevdet Yılmaz. He said the initial phase, which will cost […] February 22, 2024
Renewable Energy Dewa and Masdar secure funding for sixth phase of solar park Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) and Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy major Masdar have achieved the financial closing of the 1,800-megawatt (MW) sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The funding has been jointly provided by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered […] February 22, 2024
Analysis Industry Gulf steel has a keen edge on Chinese and Indian rivals While the Gulf is currently a minor player on the global steel-making stage, economic diversification and the energy transition may be about to change all that. As the world seeks to decarbonise, Gulf steel makers have a head start, already producing lower-carbon steel than global sector leaders China and India. The region’s ample supplies of […] February 7, 2024
Energy Abu Dhabi and UK partner plan green hydrogen complex Abu Dhabi has linked up with Hycap, an asset manager that funds net zero projects, to develop an industrial complex for green hydrogen. The facility will include an electrolysis plant, hydrogen storage and tankers for transport. The partnership between Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and UK business Hycap hopes to attract international companies […] February 6, 2024
Manufacturing US commercial EV company to launch UAE factory Californian commercial electric vehicle manufacturer HummingbirdEV has announced plans to establish a micro-factory in the UAE. The highly automated manufacturing facility aims to accelerate adoption of commercial electric vehicles (EV) in the Middle East and North Africa, southeast Asia and India. HummingbirdEV said the factory will produce commercial EVs for an existing e-commerce customer as […] January 31, 2024
