Masdar continues to seek global partnerships in meetings with Indonesia, US: UAE’s renewable energy giant Masdar explored potential cooperation on clean energy initiatives in a meeting with US Deputy Undersecretary for the International Trade Administration Diane Farrell and during a UAE-Indonesia networking event in Jakarta, the company said (here and here). Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi expressed the company’s dedication to the US clean energy sector to Farell, while another Masdar delegation co-hosted a business event with a ADX-listed global satellite services operator Yahsat under the theme “Growing UAE-Indonesia Bonds on Green Economy and Space.” Yahsat’s fleet of five satellites reaches more than 80% of the world’s population, across 150 countries.

Hydrogen infrastructure investments are also on the radar: Hydrogen hubs are “not silver bullets, but silver linings,” Masdar Director of Business Development and Commercial Andreas Bieringer said in a live discussion Enterprise Climate attended, hosted by Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. In a discussion with Port of Amsterdam Managing Director Get-Jan Nieuwenhuizen and Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary of Infrastructure at the US Department of Energy Leslie Biddle, Bieringer explained that hubs do not only unlock access to multiple uses for the fuel — like producing steel or iron — but also reduce offtaker risk given that hydrogen producers can sell to multiple users, helping to attract investments and bring down costs.

Masdar’s foray into SAF production is coming soon: Announcements on developments in Abu Dhabi’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) sector to be expected ahead of COP28, Bieringer said, pointing to recent partnerships between Masdar and Airbus and another with Adnoc. Abu Dhabi’s strategic location and ability to scale up renewables makes it the ideal spot to pilot SAF projects according to Bieringer, who added “if it’s not happening here first, I wouldn't know where else.”

Hitachi Energy to build electricity link between Neom’s Oxagon and Yanbu: Zurich-based tech company Hitachi Energy has signed agreements with the Saudi Electricity Company and Neom’s water management and utility company Enowa to build a 3 GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system connecting Neom’s floating industrial complex Oxagon to the country’s port city of Yanbu across 650 km, according to a statement. Hitachi has also signed a separate early works and capacity reservation agreement with Enowa for two additional HVDC transmission lines with a 3 GW capacity each.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

  • Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation has signed two MoUs with Chinese digital tech company Hikvision and a JV between Swiss precious metals refiner Valcambi and private sector conglomerate Ajlan & Bros to establish centers for assembly, distribution, and recycling for the two companies at the kingdom’s Special Integrated Logistics Zone. (SPA)
  • Electric vehicles in the UAE currently make up 1% of the overall car market in the country and the country has increased the number of EV charging stations to 800 over the past three years. (CNBC Arabia)
  • French car maker Renault’s Dacia Sandero — manufactured at a zero carbon facility in Tangier, Morocco — was the top selling car in Europe in April with 18k units sold. (Morocco World News)
  • UAE telecom giant Du has committed to reaching net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and scope 3 by 2050. Scope 1 and 2 represent direct emissions, while scope 3 considers all components of the value chain. (Wam)
  • Oman’s Energy and Minerals Ministry signed three agreements for the exploration and mining of potash and lithium in the Dhahirah and Al Wusta governorates. Lithium is a key mineral for the production of EV batteries and potash has recently been considered as an alternative. (Oman News Agency)
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