It’s been a busy COP for Jordan: The kingdom has been inking agreements left and right in the run up to updating its 2030 renewable energy plans with more ambitious targets by the end of this year or early next year by the latest. Acwa Power also made moves further into Indonesia.

GREEN HYDROGEN-

Jordan inks a spate of green agreements at COP28: Jordan’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has signed nine MoUs during COP28 on green fuels, green financing, and more, according to a statement.

First up, green ammonia: The ministry signed MoUs to conduct feasibility studies to explore green ammonia production in the Kingdom. The first will be conducted by Saudi’s Acwa Power to produce 100-150k tons of green ammonia annually. The second will be conducted by a consortium comprising the Korea Electric Power Corporation and Xenel International to produce green hydrogen and 1 mn tons of green ammonia annually. India’s Ocior Energy will conduct another study for the production of 100k tons yearly, increasing to 1 mn tons by 2030, while Catalyst Investment Management Jordan will explore producing 150k tons of green ammonia as well.

Then onto green finance: The ministry also signed an MoU with Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security to explore ways to finance project proposals and initiatives of the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund for the next four years.

And more: The ministry also signed a letter of intent with the Canadian Commercial Corporation to implement energy conservation projects for Jordanian government buildings within the ESCO2 model program, promote the work of energy rationalization and conservation projects in buildings, and increase financing options. The last MoU was signed with Guidehouse International to rationalize energy use within the Heating and Cooling of Buildings program in Jordan.

Acwa Power takes a big step in Indonesia’s green hydrogen market: Saudi’s Acwa Power signed an agreement with Indonesia’s PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) to build the largest green hydrogen facility in Indonesia, according to a statement. The USD 1 bn project — dubbed the Garuda Hidrogen Hijau (GH2) — will have a capacity of 150k tons of green hydrogen annually, powered by 600 MW of solar and wind energy. Commercial operations for GH2 will begin in 2026.

Not the first PLN-Acwa Power partnership: Acwa Power partnered with the state-owned company last year to develop a 4 GW battery storage facility and a hydroelectric-powered green hydrogen production facility. The Tadawul-listed company was also tapped by PLN to develop two floating solar PV solar projects worth USD 105 mn last year. In October, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo concluded a state visit where he discussed increasing bilateral cooperation in the renewable energy sector with KSA’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

ADIO partners with Masdar on financing hydrogen development: The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has signed an agreement with UAE state-owned renewables giant Masdar to facilitate financing towards the development of green hydrogen infrastructure in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement. In a bid to bring down green fuel generation costs and connect power consumers to hydrogen sites, the agreement will see both sides collaborate on channeling funds toward setting up hydrogen production, storage, and transport infrastructure across the country. Masdar has set a target of generating 1 mn tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030 in line with UAE plans to capture 25% of the market by the end of the decade.

And ADIO is making moves in the clean energy sector: Earlier this week, ADIO signed a partnership agreement with US-based nonprofit New Energy Nexus to help climate tech companies in a later stage of development set up shop in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement.

UAE’s ENOC + Japan’s IHI begin feasibility studies for signed ammonia plant: The Emirates National Oil Company Group (Enoc) and Tokyo-headquartered engineering firm IHI Corporation are launching feasibility studies on their planned UAE-based green ammonia production plant, according to a statement.

About the project: Enoc and IHI inked an MoU back in 2022 to develop what was planned to be the Emirates’ first ammonia generation facility, with an aim to export a portion of the green fuels to Japan and other Asian markets. The solar-powered project would produce renewable fuels at Enoc’s existing facilities, and a chunk of planned production would be earmarked for domestic consumption to feed electricity or fuel ships.

Both companies are planning expansions in MENA’s green fuels markets: Back in February, IHI said it is looking to invest in Indian renewables company Acme Group’s proposed green hydrogen and ammonia projects in Egypt and Oman. The projects likely include Acme’s planned 2.2 mn ton green hydrogen facility in the Ain Sokhna Industrial Zone, and its planned 1.2 mn ton green ammonia plant in Oman. Enoc also signed an agreement with Finnish oil refining company Neste last month to explore avenues for the purchase and supply of SAFs both in the UAE and the wider MENA region. Enoc plans to supply SAF to Dubai Airports starting 2024 and is currently exploring SAF production both domestically and abroad.

SHIPPING-

DP World + PIL ink MoU for green solutions: Emirati logistics giant DP World inked an agreement with Singapore-based shipping company Pacific International Lines to develop green solutions for global supply chains, according to a statement. The pair will run trial shipments between Jebel Ali Port, Dubai and destinations within PIL’s network, with initiatives to reduce the shipments’ GHG footprints, including powering vessels using a biofuel blend as well as deploying container handling equipment that runs on renewable energy.

DESALINATION-

Metito + Tahliya will develop two desalination projects in Morocco: The UAE’s infrastructure company Tahliya Group and local water management provider Metito Utilities have signed an agreement to develop two renewable energy powered desalination plants in Morocco, Trade Arabia reports. No information on the capacities of the plants was disclosed. As part of the project, the desalinated water will be used in a multi-user irrigation system for farming. Metito will explore using capital from different avenues to fund the project including its Africa Water Infrastructure Development platform.

CARBON CAPTURE-

Bapco + MOL partner on cross-border CO2 transport and sequestration: Bahrain’s Bapco Energies and Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) have signed an MoU to develop cross-border CO2 transport and sequestration in a bid to eventually establish a carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) value chain, according to a statement. Under the agreement, MOL will provide marine transportation of liquified CO2 and Bapco will provide the sequestration sites. They will also conduct two studies for the project; one on the cost of using the permanent CO2 storage owned and operated by Bapco in Bahrain and the other to study potential markets in Asia Pacific regions.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

  • Bahrain taps Masdar for clean energy expansion: Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat Holding Company signed an MoU with the UAE’s Masdar to develop a portfolio of renewables projects across the kingdom. Both sides will also explore co-investing in low-carbon projects internationally. Bahrain has set a target to source 20% of its power from clean energy by 2035 as part of its 2060 carbon-neutrality target. (Statement)
  • Oman’s PDO works to regulate carbon capture: Oman’s Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute to jointly devise regulatory frameworks for the implementation of carbon capture, storage, and transport technologies in the sultanate. PDO is owned by the government, Royal Dutch Shell, TotalEnergies, and Partex. (Oman News Agency)
  • UAE and Fiji partner on renewables: The UAE and Fiji will partner to develop the second phase of the Lakaro Renewable Energy Project in Fiji. Through state-owned renewables firm Masdar, the Emirates helped establish phase one of the solar project back in 2015 and is committing USD 1.5 mn towards the second phase, partially funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund For Development. (Wam)
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