With improvements in battery technology and fast charging solutions, can eMobility help to fast-track the region’s energy transition? RIDING THE ENERGY TRANSITION ITP MEDIA GROUP / BUSINESS JANUARY 2022• VOL. 16, ISSUE 01WHERE DO SMARTER POWER PLANTS GET ANSWERS? THEY TAP INTO TOMONI HUB. DATA FOUNDATION & ENABLERS O&M OPTIMIZATION PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT FLEXIBLE OPERATION Get the answers you need from TOMONI HUB, a cybersecure connected facility that brings your power plant next-level decision support through advanced analytics and expert human interaction. Discover how TOMONI HUB can bring you: • Real-time total plant monitoring and diagnostics • O&M support and recommendations • Cybersecurity and resilience • Real-time support during extreme weather • More reliable delivery of carbon-free renewable power • An average of 2–4 fewer days of unplanned downtime per year Download our white paper at changeinpower.com/remotenewnormal to learn more. 99834_MPS_TOMONI_HUBad_V2_UME ( Utilities Middle East )T: 205 x 275mm B: 215 x 285”mm L: 0.25” safe margins 4c99834_MPS_TOMONI_HUBad_V2_UME.indd 112/9/21 9:15 AMCONTENTS www.utilities-me.com January 2022 Utilities Middle East 3 Volume 16 | Issue 01 Contents Last year the UAE launched its Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative is a national drive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, making it the fi rst Middle East and North Africa. The initiative aligns with the Paris Agreement, which calls on countries to prepare long-term strategies to reduce green- house gas (GHG) emissions and limit the rise in global tem- perature to 1.5 C compared to pre-industrial levels. The UAE is already taking concrete steps in this direction in what will likely be a template for the rest of the MENA region. Just last month, the country announced the launch of a global clean energy powerhouse intended to spearhead the drive to net-zero carbon by 2050. Consolidating their combined eff orts in renewable energy and green hydrogen, TAQA, Mubadala and ADNOC will part- ner under the Masdar brand. The partnership between three Abu Dhabi champions will have a combined current, committed, and exclusive capacity of over 23 Gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy, with the expec- tation of reaching well over 50GW total capacity by 2030. Based on current trends, 2022 is expected to be full of many similar initiatives in the region as countries wake up to chal- lenges of climate change and the need for urgent action. For instance, the Middle East Energy Transition reports that there were no contract awards for oil-powered or gas-fuelled power stations in the MENA region in the fi rst half of 2021, while in the same period, there were about $2.8bn of renew- able energy project contract awards in the region. Some $104bn-worth of renewable energy projects are planned, of which about $21.5bn are at the contract tender- ing stage and are likely to lead to contract awards in 2022. The opportunity to pivot to green hydrogen is particu- larly strong in the Mena region. An estimated $42bn-worth of green hydrogen-related projects are being planned across the Mena region – and project announcements have become increasingly frequent over recent years. Lastly, as utilities seek to enhance systems effi ciency and reliability, themes such as artifi cial intelligence (AI), big data, the internet of things (IoT), and digitalisation will also increasingly become important this year. The year of decarbonisation Baset Asaba, Editor Email: baset.asaba@itp.com View point RIDING THE ENERGY TRANSITION A look at the growing adoption of eMobility and its potential in accelerating the region’s energy transitionCONTENTS 4 Utilities Middle East January 2022 www.utilities-me.com TAQA, ADNOC announce $3.6bn project to power and decarbonise offshore operations The innovative project will see the development and operation of a fi rst- of-its-kind high-voltage, direct current (HVDC-VSC) subsea transmission system in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region 02 Dubai’s largest desalina- tion plant on course for timely completion UAE headquartered utilities developer, Utico, has revealed that the record breaking world’s lowest water tariff project, the Hassyan Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO), is on course for a timely completion. 03 Tabreed partners with IFC for expansion in India The partnership will include ownership of Tabreed India, currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Tabreed, being transferred to a new holding company established in Singapore to be jointly owned by Tabreed (75%) and IFC (25%). 05 36 28 05 UPDATES 10 NEWS ANALYSIS 18 INDUSTRY TRENDS 22 COVER FEATURE 28 SPECIAL REPORT 40 PRODUCTS 10 16 18 A partnership between three Abu Dhabi champions will have a com- bined committed, and exclusive capacity of over 23GW of renewable energy, with the expectation of reach- ing well over 50GW by 2030 SPECIAL EDITION ALSO THIS MONTH 10 TYPE FUTURE JinkoSolar plans to improve its commercial mass production of n- type modules to 10 GW. Will this fl ag off a new race for n-type and how prepared is the industry for the new technology? 28SCALING ENERGY STORAGE MENA countries must rapidly scale up and integrate variable renewable energy (VRE) – such as solar PV and onshore wind – into their respective power grids if they are to meet their national renewable energy targets. 18 WIRELESS UTILITIES Organisational silos have led to the build out of separate networks for separate applications, allowing utilities to lose sight of the bigger, integrated picture. True, communication require- ments vary greatly among smart grid applications 36HYDROGEN COST REDUCTION As hydrogen gains wide attention, Wood Mackenzie expects a signifi - cant drop in electrolyser capex by 2025. Costs are being driven down by a range of factors, including econo- mies of scale. 22 EMOBILITY FUTURE With battery technology improving and companies such as ABB planning to introduce megawatt charg- ing solutions this year, can eMobility help to fast track energy transition in MENA? 16 PUMP SOLUTIONS Because of SEEPEX’s new SAI technology, a long pipeline is no longer a disadvantage. This is more important than ever when it comes to disposing dewatered sewage sludge. Most popular news stories on www. Utilities-me.comNews T he UAE has announced the launch of a global clean energy powerhouse intended to spearhead the drive to net- zero carbon by 2050. Consolidating their combined eff orts in renewable energy and green hydrogen, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) will partner under the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) brand. The partnership between three Abu Dhabi champions will have a combined current, committed, and exclusive capacity of over 23 Gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy, with the expectation of reaching well over 50GW total capacity by 2030. Upon completion of this transaction, the expanded Masdar entity will become one of the largest clean energy companies of its kind and be well positioned to lead the industry on a global scale. The announcement consolidates the eff orts of all three partners, combining their renewable energy and green hydrogen portfolios into Masdar, leveraging the existing clean energy pioneer’s strong international legacy and brand identity. The new Masdar partnership builds on the creation in January 2021 of the Abu Dhabi Hydrogen Alliance, comprised of Mubadala, ADNOC and ADQ (TAQA’s majority shareholder) and the launch on 17th November 2021 of a new global renewable energy venture between ADNOC and TAQA. Collectively, the partners will supercharge Masdar’s growth and expansion, with each shareholder playing a key role. As the United Arab Emirates prepares to host COP28 in 2023, this strategic partnership positions Abu Dhabi and the UAE at the forefront of the energy transition. The powerful new combination will further drive de-carbonisation of power across local and international markets, while accelerating the UAE’s path towards net-zero carbon by 2050 and cementing its leading global role in green hydrogen. “As the UAE celebrates its Jubilee, this collaboration between three Abu Dhabi powerhouses fi rmly places ADNOC at the forefront of the global energy transition and marks our entry into the international clean energy space. Through our direct interest in Masdar, and in close collaboration with our partners, ADNOC will further capitalise on the many exciting local and international renewable energy and hydrogen opportunities,” said Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC. “Since our nation’s wise leadership founded Masdar 15 years ago, the company has established itself as a global pioneer across the clean energy and sustainability landscape. This bold and forward- looking strategic partnership, will bolster Masdar’s position both locally and globally, and is yet another example of how ADNOC has successfully developed a national and international partnership model, through smart, creative and innovative approaches that are creating additional value and driving sustainable growth for Abu Dhabi and the UAE.” As an early pioneer in the emerging market for hydrogen and its carrier fuels, ADNOC has ambitious plans to grow domestic and international hydrogen value chains, leveraging its trading capabilities, existing infrastructure and logistics. Khaldoun Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Offi cer of Mubadala Investment Company said: “This marks the start of a new chapter for our clean energy champion, Masdar. Fifteen years ago, Mubadala established Masdar out of our conviction that innovation can drive sustainable economic growth while safeguarding the future of the planet. Masdar is a true ‘Made-in-the-UAE’ success story that refl ects our long-term strategy.” The new partnership envisions a comprehensive focus on two key areas: renewable energy, and green hydrogen. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber will remain Chairman of the expanded Masdar entity that will cover both renewables and green hydrogen business areas. It is planned that TAQA will take the leading role with a 43% shareholding in Masdar’s renewable energy business, with Mubadala retaining 33% and ADNOC holding 24%. ADNOC will take the leading role with a 43 percent shareholding in Masdar’s green hydrogen business, with Mubadala holding 33 percent and TAQA 24 percent respectively. REGIONAL UPDATE // ESSENTIAL INSIGHTS FOR MIDDLE EAST WATER, GAS AND ELECTRICITY PROFESSIONALS UAE launches global energy powerhouse to generate 50GW of renewable energy by 2050 Partnership between three Abu Dhabi champions will have a combined capacity of over 23 Gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy and a target of 50GW capacity by 2050 Renewables www.utilities-me.com January 2022 Utilities Middle East 5EGA and GE to develop roadmap to decarbonise UAE aluminium giant’s GE gas turbines Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, and GE Gas Power are to develop a roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the operation of EGA’s existing GE natural gas turbines by exploring hydrogen as a fuel, as well as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage solutions. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Offi cer of EGA, and Joseph Anis, President & CEO of GE Gas Power Europe, Middle East, and Africa. EGA has 33 GE natural gas turbines at Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah, with a total power generation capacity of 5,200 megawatts. Electricity generation accounts for a signifi cant proportion of EGA’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The MoU between EGA and GE is in line with the ambitions of the UAE Government’s Hydrogen Leadership Roadmap, unveiled earlier this month in Glasgow during COP26. The roadmap will include development of a strategy to support low- carbon industries to contribute towards the achievement of the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. Decarbonising industries is a major pillar of UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. of Masdar, at a ceremony today in Yeravan, the nation’s capital. “The gradual increase of renewable sources in our country’s energy system is one of the priorities set by the Government of Armenia,” said Gnel Sanosyan, the Minster of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia. “We regard this cooperation with Masdar as an important step towards this goal, as well as towards endorsing Armenia’s investment potential. The Ayg-1 industrial 200 MW solar plant project is a milestone on this road. We expect the signing of this Masdar signs agreement to develop 200MW solar plant in Armenia Masdar, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies and a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, has signed an agreement with the Government of the Republic of Armenia to develop a 200-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. The Ayg-1 project will be Armenia’s largest utility-scale solar plant. The Government Support Agreement (GSA) was signed by Gnel Sanosyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Offi cer Masdar Solar Solar company Taqat Badeela to sell 21% shares in IPO Taqat Badeela hopes to raise funds to support its ambitious expansion plan as demand for solar products increases in Saudi Arabia The Ayg-1 project will be developed on a design, finance, build, own, and operate (DFBOO) basis Saudi Arabia based solar energy fi rm Taqat Badeela has announced plans to sell 21.28% of its shares to the public to fund its expansion ambitions, according to media reports. The subscription for up to 135,134 shares will be available through the Afaq Financial Platform for 80 days, from Nov. 15, 2021 until Feb. 3, 2022, reported Argaam. Taqat Badeela installs, maintains and manufactures solar panel systems for homes and companies. The company hopes to cash in on the increasing demand in Saudi Arabia for this energy source. Saudi Arabia launched the National Renewable Energy Program in 2017 to increase the share of renewables in its overall power mix. The fi rst round of the program facilitated the installation of the 300-MW Sakaka solar park and the 400-MW Dumat Al-Jandal wind farm, which produced its fi rst power in April. The Kingdom wants to increase the generation capacity of renewable energy sources to about document to mark the start of a fruitful and lasting cooperation on this and for new upcoming projects.” The Ayg-1 project will be developed on a design, fi nance, build, own, and operate (DFBOO) basis and the project company will be 85% owned by Masdar, with the Armenian National Interests Fund, (ANIF, a government owned investment vehicle) holding 15%. 58.7 GW by 2030, of which 40 GW would be from solar and 16 GW from wind energy and the balance coming from other The renewable energy market in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries has already reached 17 GW and stands at 70 gigawatts in the wider Middle East and North Africa region. NEWS 6 Utilities Middle East January www.utilities-me.comDRILL DEEPER The oil and gas sector is the heartbeat of Middle Eastern economies. 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AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION$186.6mn new Saudi Arabia solar production plant is the largest in MENA Saudi Arabia has launched the largest factory for the production of solar panels in the Middle East and North Africa. The factory was launched in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Eng. Osama bin Abdulaziz Al- Zamil. The factory is located on a total area of more than 27,000 square meters, with an estimated production capacity of 1.2 gigawatts. The new Tabuk facility uses automated machines for its production, and employs latest international technologies in the fi eld. It is strategically located near the Kingdom’s giga projects in NEOM and the Red Sea, and the region also has plenty of qualifi ed locals to work in the various jobs needed by the facility, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Osama Al- Zamil said. Al-Zamil emphasized the need to accelerate investments in solar energy and diversifying energy sources, in addition to enabling integration with relevant government agencies and the private sector. to the economic cooperation between our two countries,” he said. Le Maire was scheduled to meet with the heads of the state funds Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Investment and Mubadala, in addition to the state oil company ADNOC. The fi nance minister of France warned on Sunday that the cost of the energy transition will be “much higher than expected.” France, UAE to work together to advance renewable energy and hydrogen French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said last month that France will work with the United Arab Emirates on new projects in the energy sector including renewables and hydrogen fuel. “Going to zero carbon emissions by 2050 is an important goal, and we want to work with the UAE in this fi ght on climate change,” Le Maire told reporters in Abu Dhabi. The minister called for economic and investment cooperation with the French economy recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, and cited investments in new supply chains as one of the reasons for his visit to the UAE. “It is time to give a new impetus Hydrogen EV charger DEWA launches EV green charger user dashboard The dashboard provides customers with a complete record of bill payments, consumption information, charging transactions and dates The two countries are aiming to intensify their decarbonisation drive through mutual collaborations on technology and investment on clean energy Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched the EV Green Charger User Dashboard to help customers better manage their EV Green Charger services. The dashboard enables customers to easily track their charging and consumption data through DEWA’s website or smart app. The dashboard provides customers with a complete record of bill payments, consumption information, charging transactions and dates, as well as access to exclusive discounts from DEWA store. It also allows customers to manage multiple EV Green Charger cards, pay their bills, and locate the nearest DEWA charging station from more than 300 charging stations across Dubai. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said that DEWA’s constant development of the EV Green Charger service supports its efforts to promote sustainable transport through the adoption of electric vehicles. This is part of DEWA’s efforts to provide innovative and eco- friendly solutions that reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector and enhance Dubai’s position as the global capital for a green economy and sustainable development. “The EV Green Charger initiative is a pillar for consolidating the UAE’s position to achieve sustainable development and build a competitive economy by phasing out fossil fuels and diversifying “We should never underestimate the price of the climate transition,” Bruno Le Maire told reporters in Abu Dhabi. Revelling in France’s strong economic rebound from the devastation of the pandemic, Le Maire was in the UAE to discuss joint investments in a wide range of fi elds, from port infrastructure to hydrogen fuel and renewable energy. The UAE has publicly pledged to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050, among a list of countries that made the long-range, still-vague commitment before the climate summit in Glasgow opened in October last year. energy sources for sustainable development with a strong and modern infrastructure,” said Al Tayer. DEWA provides its EV Green Charger service to all electric vehicle users in Dubai including local and international visitors, by allowing them to charge their vehicle through DEWA’s ‘Guest Mode’ feature. They can access this feature by scanning the QR code on the charging stations and following the steps on their device. NEWS 8 Utilities Middle East January www.utilities-me.comNearly half of energy professionals in the region consider exiting the industry, says report Almost half of all energy workers in the Middle East are considering leaving the energy industry within the next fi ve years, according to new research from global energy recruitment specialists Oilandgasjobsearch.com and Brunel. In a survey of nearly 17,000 energy professionals worldwide, 47% of respondents in the Middle East said they were thinking about moving out of the industry. This was the highest fi gure in the world and contrasts with a global average of 43%. A further 22% of Middle East energy professionals said they were unsure about whether they wished to remain in the industry. Among workers in the Middle East the most common reason for planning to leave the sector was low salary, mentioned by 31% of respondents. This was followed by lack of good benefi ts – 25% – and personal lifestyle changes, cited by 22%. As a global comparison, low salary was raised as a key issue by 25% of workers who were planning to exit from the industry. Personal lifestyle changes were also mentioned by 25% of respondents. Lack of good benefi ts, mentioned in 22% of responses, was the third-most common reason for workers worldwide to be considering their futures. Kharabsheh said that these agreements will help the two countries’ electrical systems reach new markets in a way that reduces costs. He also pointed out that within two months tenders for connecting Jordanian electricity to Iraq will be awarded contracts. Kharabsheh stressed the Jordanian electrical network’s readiness to supply Lebanon with electricity, especially after agreement on the fi nal contract, reached during the tripartite meeting of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon’s electricity ministers on Egypt, Jordan to boost electric power supply and interconnectivity Egypt and Jordan have agreed to raise the electric capacity between the countries from 500 megawatts to 1,000 megawatts, enabling them to exchange electricity with other countries in the region. Jordan’s Energy Minister Saleh Kharabsheh and Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Markabi held a meeting to discuss plans to expand the electrical connection between the countries, develop the electricity sector and establish new energy markets for the transfer of electric energy, according to a joint statement. Power supply Noor Energy Dubai inaugurates 950MW Noor Energy 1 Visitors Centre Once completed, the 4th phase of the MBR solar park will have the largest thermal storage capacity in the world of 15 hours, allowing for energy availability round the clock The two countries have agreed expand the electrical connection between the countries, develop the electricity sector and establish new energy markets for electric power transmission Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has inaugurated the “Noor Energy 1 Visitors Centre” in the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The 950-megawatt (MW) phase has investments totalling AED15.78 billion based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, and offi cials from DEWA and Noor Energy 1, which is implementing the fourth phase, attended the inauguration ceremony. The visitors centre features an exhibition that chronicles the history of energy and future energy technologies. It displays the latest technologies in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), photovoltaic cells, and the future of green hydrogen. In addition, the exhibition uses Virtual Reality (VR) to tour the solar park to understand the projects and technologies used to produce energy. “DEWA’s projects at the solar park using the IPP model constitute one of the key pillars of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100 percent of energy from clean October 18. The meeting covered supplying Lebanon with about 150MW of electricity from Jordan through Syria between midnight and 6am and 250MW during other times. Kharabsheh highlighted the progress on connecting Jordan with Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iraq. energy sources by 2050,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA. DEWA has launched pioneering initiatives and projects to diversify clean energy sources. These include multiple clean and renewable energy sources and technologies such as solar photovoltaic solar panels, CSP, green hydrogen production using solar power, pumped-storage water technology using clean energy in Hatta, and research into electricity generation from wind power. A consortium led by DEWA and ACWA Power formed a project company, Noor Energy 1, to design, build, and operate the plant. DEWA owns 51 percent of the company. NEWS www.utilities-me.com January 2022 Utilities Middle East 9Next >