Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park’s 900 MW fifth phase is officially inaugurated

Good morning, friends. We have another morning of assorted updates from around the region as the news cycle continues its brisk pace this week.

THE BIG CLIMATE STORIES- UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the 900 MW fifth phase of the 5 GW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and the UAE’s Al Fattan Holding Investment is investing USD 20 mn in a 200 MW green hydrogen and ammonia facility in Abu Dhabi.

^^ We have the details on these stories and more in the news well, below.

THE BIG CLIMATE STORY OUTSIDE THE REGION- Europe just keeps getting hotter: Europe, which saw its hottest summer on record in 2022, is the world’s fastest warming continent, a joint report by the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service showed on Monday. The report says that Europe warmed to 2.3°C above the pre-industrial average last year. “Summer was the hottest ever recorded: the high temperatures exacerbated the severe and widespread drought conditions, fuelled violent wildfires that resulted in the second largest burnt area on record, and led to thousands of heat-associated excess deaths,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

But there’s a silver lining: Renewable energy accounted for 22.3% of the EU’s electricity in 2022, which was higher than polluting fossil fuels’ share of 20%, the report said, describing this as a “sign of hope for the future.”

The story grabbed headlines in the international press: Bloomberg | Reuters | AFP | CNN | Forbes

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Journalists looking to explore business, finance and economic stories are welcome. So are recent journalism school graduates.

That said, we're looking for gifted story-tellers from all walks of life and across all professions, as long as they show a keen interest in learning to write about the stories, topics, businesses, and figures moving markets. Egyptian and foreign nationals alike are welcome to apply. So are job-switchers: If you’re an equities analyst tired of the rat race, we’re a great place to come work.

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WATCH THIS SPACE #1- Adnoc eyeing carbon credits issuance: The UAE’s state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) is reportedly exploring the issuance of carbon credits from its emissions-reduction projects to use as offsets to carbon taxes levied on the export of carbon-intensive products, Bloomberg reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. The new carbon desk will be run under Adnoc’s wholly owned subsidiary Adnoc Trading. No further information on the timeline or expected value of the carbon credits to be issued was provided.

WATCH THIS SPACE #2- Algeria is allocating DZD 260 bn (c. USD 1.9 bn) to help slash energy consumption by 10% until 2030, Algeria Press Service quoted Merouane Chabane, the general director of the country’s National Agency for the Promotion and Rationalization of Energy Use as saying. The funds will be allocated to implement a national program aimed at rationalizing energy consumption and the energy transition, Chabane said. The program will include financial contributions as compensation for energy-consuming devices, including cooling and heating systems in homes and governmental institutions. It will also include converting vehicles to run on LNG instead of petrol.

WATCH THIS SPACE #3- EU plan to incentivize renewables faces hurdles as countries disagree on coal: An EU meeting aiming to move forward the approval of a reform plan intending to stabilize the price of low-carbon energy was thrown off-course after Sweden submitted a late proposal to extend subsidies for coal plants, Reuters reports. Sweden — with the support of Poland — proposed allowing countries to subsidize coal plants if they are being used as backup generators to generate power, but the proposal sparked strong backlash from Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg as it is incompatible with “national climate protection targets.” The reform plan aims to make power prices more predictable by “putting new state-backed renewables and low-carbon nuclear plants onto fixed-price contracts,” the newswire reports. EU member states will negotiate the final power market upgrade at parliament and lobby to pass the law before the EU parliamentary elections next year.

WATCH THIS SPACE #4- The aviation industry reaching net zero by 2055 is a more realistic target, a survey of 325 industry executives by GE Aerospace has found. Some 46% of respondents told GE the aviation sector can meet its carbon-neutrality target by 2050, while 32% said the sector will be unable to meet a 2050 net zero target, and 22% said they are unsure whether the industry can fully eliminate its emissions by mid century, the survey notes. Most respondents, however, agree that the net zero target for the aviation industry can be realized five years later in 2055. 51% of respondents to the survey say progress toward achieving the 2050 net-zero target is moving at a slow pace, and 30% say the carbon neutrality target is the number one challenge for the sector.

WATCH THIS SPACE #5- MDBs lay out plans to align portfolios with Paris goals: A group of multilateral development banks (MDBs) have laid out the planks of their plans to align their work and portfolios with the goals of the Paris Agreement, according to a joint statement (pdf). The plan rests on six main principles: Alignment with mitigation goals; adaptation and climate-resilient operations; accelerated contribution to the transition through climate finance; engagement and policy-development support; reporting; and alignment of internal activities. The MDBs include the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank Group, the Islamic Development Bank, the New Development Bank, and the World Bank Group.

Riyadh Air executive is on board: Riyadh Air — founded in March this year — has vowed to commit to sustainability-driven initiatives and warned airlines that do not follow suit will not overcome the challenges presented by emissions restrictions, CEO Tony Douglas tells Reuters. “Ultimately it will be commercial aviation sustainability that will differentiate the winners and the losers, and anyone who doesn't take it seriously will probably fail for sure,” Douglas said, according to the newswire.

AND- British luxury car manufacturer Rolls-Royce is set to begin testing its new small gas turbine’s ability to advance hybrid-electric flight, it said in a statement. This engine will be tested on sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) in the next few months as part of a turbogenerator system being developed for the Advanced Air Mobility Market. The system is expected to deliver an on-board power source with scalable power offerings ranging between 500-1.2k kW enabled through an extended range of SAFs with hydrogen combustion at a later stage.

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WORTH WATCHING– David Attenborough is back, this time exploring the impact of human activities on animal migration: Our Planet II — a four-part Netflix series narrated by prominent broadcaster and biologist Sir David Attenborough — looks at animal migration and “humanity’s awful consequences for wildlife,” The Guardian writes in a review. The docu-series examines a multitude of species, from albatross chicks to Arctic polar bears, in “unbelievable shots of animals on the move together in staggering numbers,” the news outlet says. Some of the astonishing shots include “a drone camera mimicking a homeless bee swarm’s hunt for a new nesting place, checking out the holes in various trees,” and a shot of a mega-herd of cape buffalos in the Kalahari desert, “filmed from the air and looking like swarming ants.” But the most memorable and heart wrenching scenes are those capturing the impacts of human beings on the environment, including a shot of an albatross chick trying to ingest scraps that its mother mistook for food, a walrus sitting on the only floating glacier within view while “unsure where to go next,” and a polar bear worn out by needing to swim more to hunt a seal due to melting glaciers.

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

France will host The Summit for a New Global Financial Pact on Thursday, 22 June to Friday, 23 June in Paris. The two-day summit will bring together heads of states and heads of multilateral development banks, international organizations, the private sector and international NGOs to shape a new finance “toolbox” and “pave the way towards a more balanced financial partnership between the north and south.” It will also see new agreements in a bid to relieve debt distress and allow countries to access additional financing to invest in sustainable development and slash emissions.

Thailand will host the second workshop on addressing loss and damage from 15-16 July in Bangkok. The workshop will see discussions on pathways to increasing funding for climate-induced loss and damage. The workshop is being held in preparation for the third meeting of the COP27 Transitional Committee in August. The committee is tasked with operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund, to be approved during the fourth transitional meeting in October.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events and news triggers.

UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park launches fifth phase: UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the 900 MW fifth phase of the 5 GW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park yesterday, Wam reports. The full investment ticket for the 5 GW mega solar park is AED 50 bn (c. USD 13.6 bn) and 2.4 GW of solar power has been installed.

The details: The Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa) acquired a 60% stake in the AED 2 bn (c. USD 544.5 mn) fifth phase of the project at a record low bid of USD 1.69 per KWh, with Acwa Power and Gulf Investment Corporation nabbing a 40% share. The fifth phase will offset some 1.18 mn tons of CO2 equivalent annually once fully operational, providing clean energy to 270k homes, according to Wam. The entire project will offset 6.5 mn tons of carbon emissions once fully operational.

Background: A consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power, in partnership with the Gulf Investment Corporation, was selected to develop the fifth phase of the project at a cost of USD 562 mn under a BOO agreement. Dewa — the sole offtaker of energy generated by the fifth phase — is buying the solar energy generated at a price of USD 1.7 per kWh, one of the most competitive PPA agreements to date.

Bidding for the sixth phase of the park has already begun: UAE’s Masdar and Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power have submitted bids to develop the 1.8 GW that should be operational in stages between 2024 and 2026. Dewa will announce its selection this quarter, with the phase scheduled to become operational in stages between 4Q 2024 and 2026. No details on the cost of building the sixth phase have been disclosed.

The UAE’s Al Fattan Holding Investment is investing USD 20 mn in a 200 MW green hydrogen and ammonia facility in Abu Dhabi, Gulf News reports. The project is estimated to cost a total of USD 400 mn and will be developed by the holding company’s power subsidiary Al Fattan Energy in partnership with South Korea’s LTechUVC after they signed an agreement in March. No details on other potential investors were mentioned.

What we know about the project so far: The two companies established a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to carry out the project, which will be located in the Kezad industrial complex in Abu Dhabi. The plant will specialize in the production and supply of green hydrogen and ammonia used for ammonia hybrid power generation, according to the news outlet.

The stakeholders: Al Fattan Energy works on renewable energy, nuclear, and oil and gas projects in MENA, while LTechUVC is a consulting firm focused on hydrogen-based energy. LTechUVC will oversee the participation of other firms in the construction of the Kezad green ammonia plant.

A long renewables commitment between Mubadala’s investee companies: Two of Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala’s investee companies — Princeton Digital Group (PDG) and Tata Power Renewables — are partnering to supply clean energy for a data center in India under a 25-year agreement, according to a statement.

What we know: Pan-Asia data center operator PDG and Tata Power Renewables are co-investing in a captive power plant that will supply electricity to one of the data operator’s flagship MU1 data centers in Mumbai’s Airoli.The generational capacity of the solar plant is not disclosed, but it will begin generating energy this month. Additional capacity will come online upon the completion of the plant’s future phases. The solar facility will help PDG’s MU1 achieve its target of being 50% powered by renewable energy.

Mubadala has been investing big in the two companies: Mubadala invested USD 350 mn in PDG — home to 21 data centers with a capacity of over 700 MW across six countries — last year, the statement notes. The Abu Dhabi sovereign investor also invested USD 525 mn in the same year in Tata Power Renewables — which is spearheading India’s energy transition with a 30 GW contribution by 2030 — along with BlackRock Real Assets.

Jordan is getting much-needed funds for its water crisis: The World Bank has approved USD 250 mn in financing to help address Jordan’s water crisis, according to a statement. The approved financing comes under the kingdom’s new Jordan Water Sector Efficiency Project, which aims to enhance the efficiency of water services through the rehabilitation of water distribution networks.

The details: The financing consists of a USD 200 mn loan from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and a USD 50 mn grant from the Global Concessional Financing Facility (GCFF). The GCFF was launched in 2016 to provide concessional financing to middle income countries hosting large populations of refugees. The project is set to save c.10 mn cubic meters (cbm) of water and help reduce electricity use, setting up a robust drought management system to enhance water management practices, the statement notes.

And the kingdom is in need: Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries globally, with only 97 cbm of available water per capita annually, according to the World Bank.This is below the absolute water scarcity threshold of 500 cbm per capita per year. A surging population growth and climate change is set to further strain water resources availability by 30% by 2040.

Acwa Power’s Tashkent solar farm is coming along: Saudi renewables giant Acwa Power signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement with the Energy China Group Corporation company for its 400 MW solar energy project in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, according to a statement. The financial agreements and an expected timeline for the project were not disclosed.

One step forward: This recent agreement builds on a prior power purchase agreement (PPA) Acwa signed with the National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan and the country’s Investment, Industry, and Trade Ministry back in March to deploy the project along with an accompanying 500 MWh BESS facility.

There’s more coming: The company has signed three power purchase agreements — including the Tashkent solar farm — totaling USD 2.5 bn with Uzbekistan for 1.4 GW worth of solar projects and three battery energy storage (BESS) units totalling a capacity of 1.5 GWh in the country. The projects will include two solar plants in Samarkand with a total production capacity of 1 GW with a battery storage capacity of 500 MWh from a single BESS facility. A separate BESS facility will be established in Uzbeikstan’s Bukhara which will have a storage capacity amounting to 500 MWh, and will include overhead transmission lines to distribute power onto the national grid.

Acwa has been investing heavily in Uzbekistan: The company has already poured in a total of USD 5 bn to fund five projects it owns and operates in the country — including onshore wind energy plants. Acwa plans to invest a total of USD 10 bn in Uzbekistan’s renewables projects over the next five years, and signed an agreement in May to establish a USD 100 mn green hydrogen plant in Tashkent which will have a 3k ton annual capacity once operational in June 2024. The company also inked financing agreements that same month worth USD 120 mn for the 100 MW Karatau wind farm — formerly known as Nukus Wind IPP, which will become operational in February 2025.

Canada’s SNC-Lavalin Group has been selected to build a district cooling plant for Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Park, according to a statement released last week. The contract was awarded by Saudi Tabreed’s subsidiary Green Park Cooling Company. No financial details or a timeline to launch were disclosed in the statement.

What we know: The park is poised to become the world’s largest urban park built over 16 sq km with open green spaces covering over 11.6 sq km, the statement notes. Under the 27-month contract, the Canadian engineering and construction firm will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for the park’s district cooling plant with a capacity of 60k refrigeration tons. It will also be tasked with the design, installation, automation, testing, and commissioning of the plant.

About SNC-Lavalin: The company is a leading provider of district cooling systems in the Middle East with a portfolio of 50 projects with a total capacity of 720k refrigeration tons, according to the statement.

Coffee With: Markus H.-P. Müller, Chief Investment Officer ESG and Global Head of the Chief Investment Office of Private Bank, Deutsche Bank: Müller (LinkedIn) has held multiple posts at Deutsche Bank, serving as global head of chief investment office since June 2020. He was appointed as chief investment officer ESG in June 2021 alongside his role as global chief investment office head. Müller is also a member of the Deutsche Banks Group Sustainability Council. As an author of several books and articles on the transformation of society and economies, his main focus and interest is in the structural transformation of economies and societies, as well as in the area of sustainability.

Enterprise Climate sat down with Müller to discuss challenges to the energy transition in MENA, the investment gap in low-carbon power and sustainable transition technologies, and what governments in the region can do to bridge such a gap.

Edited excerpts from our conversation follow:

Enterprise: What do you think are the key challenges for the energy transition in the MENA region?

Markus H.-P. Müller: While it is of course important to talk about challenges for the energy transition, I believe we often don’t talk enough about the opportunities these challenges will present, whether from a social, economic, or environmental perspective. Especially for the MENA region, I think there are three main energy transition challenges that will create substantial opportunities.

The first relates to the diversification of energy sources, as the region is still currently heavily dependent on fossil fuel sources. Oil and gas accounted for 98% of total energy supply in 2020, against less than 2% for renewable sources. The second biggest challenge is developing updated and modernized infrastructure to allow for high renewables’ penetration, with grid expansion and energy storage facilities to address the different production/consumption patterns of renewable energy sources vis a vis fossil fuel-based systems.

The third challenge, the energy-water nexus, may be underappreciated, but is particularly important for the MENA region. Low carbon does not necessarily mean low water use, and some technologies, such as biofuels, carbon capture, and thermal or nuclear power plants, are relatively water intensive. Nascent technologies like green hydrogen are also expected to be big consumers of water. As the interdependence of water and energy is expected to intensify in the coming period, it will be particularly important for the region to take this dimension into account.

E: What are some key steps MENA countries need to take to accelerate their energy transition plans for emission-free energy?

MM: The first step is related to setting clear and precise renewable energy targets, which will in turn boost further clean energy investments. Another important step is related to renewables development and the upgrade of supporting infrastructure at the local level. Large-scale renewable development is dependent on local supply chains, but economies of scale for locally-manufactured clean energy technologies may be impaired by slow take-off of local projects and thin margins. Transmission and distribution networks need to be digitized, allowing for the fast sharing of data across the value chain, from energy producers to consumers.

E: What are the key challenges for MENA countries in taking this path?

MM: The first main challenge — which is a global one — is ensuring there is a market demand able to absorb an uptick in renewable energy supply. The second challenge — which is more specific to the Middle East’s oil-producing nations — is related to economic diversification. The region accounts for more than 30% of global oil production and as much as 40% of its GDP comes from fossil fuels in some countries. Shifting to renewables would allow countries to diversify economic activities, perhaps leapfrogging into export-oriented industrialization for renewables.

E: A recent ESG report from Deutsche Bank mentions changing the ways in which we distribute, store, and consume energy. How does this directly relate to MENA's ambitious renewables plans?

MM: First of all, the focus must be on switching sources of energy production to sources that do not involve greenhouse gas emissions. This relates to MENA insofar as the region is a major producer of fossil fuels. To put this into perspective, the region produced 31% of global oil and 18% of global gas supplies, while at the same time accounting for 18% and 40% of proven oil and gas reserves worldwide. Hence, MENA’s renewable plans could focus on increasing momentum for renewables generation, especially considering the abundance of renewable energy resources in this area. Approximately one fourth of all solar radiation energy on earth is received in the MENA region. For consumption of energy, electrification is the lever. Electrification is key to ensuring reliable and sustainable energy supply and consumption while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To provide an example of electrification’s importance, industry is a major source of emissions and currently 95% of energy-related consumption in industry in the Middle East is fossil-fuel based. The transition will not be possible unless we find ways to electrify as many applications or uses as possible.

E: Can you tell us more about the investment gap in the MENA region with regards to low-carbon power and sustainable transition technologies?

MM: According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), the financing gap for the MENA region is estimated at USD 180 bn annually through 2030 for the region to meet its climate and energy goals. There are several reasons contributing to this gap. Improving the share of renewable power generation requires substantial cost, and it may, due to the criticalities of infrastructure investment, hinder investment into other necessary areas, such as energy storage. In this regard, another reason for the current gap is related to technology deployment and development. If certain necessary technologies, like long term energy storage or electric vehicle charging infrastructure, are not currently scalable, investments will need to focus on research and development for these essential technologies.

E: What can governments do to address this gap in energy transition funding?

MM: Market frameworks, long-term planning methodologies, and industrial value chains were created for a society powered by fossil fuels. As a result, governments have several issues when it comes to renewable-based structures and have to focus their attention on aligning the policy direction with faster implementation. New capacity markets for energy storage, for example, would be required, as would compensating mechanisms for low-utilization fuel-based sources crucial to system resilience. Such market designs would have to evolve in tandem with legislation and ownership structures. But there can also be other incentives provided by governments like carbon pricing systems, carbon taxes, and the development of voluntary carbon markets.

E: What are some of the compromises that should be made for energy transition in the region?

MM: The main compromise is related to the shift to a completely new business model for the entire economy, gradually phasing out fossil fuels while simultaneously promoting the development of renewable energy sources. Several utilities firms are spearheading the development of a renewable energy infrastructure, while numerous oil and gas firms are working to diversify their sources of energy. We expect public and commercial sector priorities to increasingly converge in coming years, spurred not just by scientists' calls for action but also by technological advances that make it possible for investments in renewable energy to make an increasing contribution to economic growth.

The whole energy value chain, from solar panels to distribution networks and energy storage companies, will gain from this global energy shift. But there will be transition risks in this process: Established energy companies will have to work hard to adapt to the changing business environment, if they want to avoid becoming stranded assets.

UAE’s ADDED partners with Valeo partner on EV production: The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has inked a partnership agreement with French automotive supplier Valeo to develop an EV technology hub in Abu Dhabi to support sustainable mobility startups in the Emirate, Wam reports. The agreement will see Valeo set up EV design and manufacturing facilities in Abu Dhabi in line with the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy as well as cooperate with UAE-based sustainable mobility startups, the news agency notes.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• China has donated several energy-saving utilities to ِEgypt to help boost the country’s capability to combat the effects of climate change. (Statement)

Japan’s government and big banks are launching a “green transformation” program to attract some USD 1 tn in investments over the next decade, Reuters reports, citing Japanese finance newspaper Nikkei Shimbun. The program will mainly be based in the city of Sapporo, which Japan has announced will become a designated special zone for attracting renewable energy investment by next year. Japan’s largest bank, the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, will be participating, as will the country’s Economy, Trade, and Industry Ministry and the Environment Ministry. No details on the other contributing stakeholders, program timeline, or type of green projects of interest were given.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• Australian mining company Fortescue is building a new battery and powertrain plant in the UK, set to be operational by next year. The new plant will focus on manufacturing heavy industry and electric powertrains systems. (Reuters)

Digitalized and interconnected technology used to set up renewable projects and energy grids have increased the risk and occurrence of cyberattacks, Reuters reports. The energy transition’s use of decentralized, small units — such as wind and solar plants as well as smart meters — connected digitally significantly increases the number of entry points for attacks, director at Germany's Institute for Security and Safety Swantje Westpfahl explained to Reuters.

This became clear on the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: European energy companies saw the amount of hacker attacks on their operations shoot up since the start of the war in Ukraine last year, the newswire said. Russia launched an average of 10 cyberattacks a day — with the Ukrainian energy sector a priority target — Ukraine's SBU security service told Reuters. Last February, a Russian cyberattack on a Ukrainian satellite communications network knocked out the remote monitoring of more than 5.8k wind turbines of Germany's Enercon, shutting them down completely.

Similar attacks happened in our neck of the woods: Hackers used the Triton virus malware — which MIT Technology Review calls as the world’s most murderous malware — to remotely take over the safety systems of a Saudi petrochemical plant back in 2017 bringing it to a standstill, according to Reuters.

Digital security is being ramped up in response: German utility company EnBW told Reuters it is “expanding its 200-strong cyber security team to protect operations ranging from wind and solar to grids.” Swedish grid operator Cem Gocgoren has roughly quadrupled its cybersecurity team in the last four years in parallel to improving security awareness amongst staff.