WASTE MANAGEMENT-

Etihad Rail + Bee’ah ink waste management agreement: Etihad Rail and Bee’ah subsidiary Bee’ah Tandeef have agreed to cooperate on managing Etihad Rail’s waste, according to a statement released on Thursday. Bee’ah will set a framework for waste treatment — including collection, transportation, disposal, and recycling — and together the pair will work on reducing energy consumption and curbing emissions from landfills. After recycling some of the waste, Bee’ah will convert it into fertilizer for local agricultural use. The contract will target selected sites at first, including Al Mirfa Depot, Muzaira’a, Al Mirfa Viewpoint, Riviera Mirfa Residence, Al Faya, and freight stations in Ruwais, Al Ghuwaifat, Industrial City in Abu Dhabi (ICAD), and Dubai Industrial City.

GREEN TECH-

Moroccan Energy Ministry + UM6P team up to enhance green innovation: Morocco’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development has inked an agreement with Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) to boost cooperation between the government and academia to work towards a more eco-friendly and inclusive economy, Morocco World News reported on Thursday. The partnership aims to boost cooperation between higher education, research, green entrepreneurship, and public policies, with a focus on international initiatives like the South-South Cooperation Program.

UM6P is also supporting the mining sector: UM6P is also partnering with the Central Purchasing and Development Agency of the Tafilalet and Figuig Mining Region (CADETAF) to support research and innovation for mining value chains and to establish a national center of excellence to support mining startups, according to Morocco World News. UM6P's research will be utilized at the regional level by CADETAF.

AGRICULTURE-

Badia Farms teams up with Bahraini Edamah to invest in Bahrain’s sustainable agriculture sector: Dubai-based urban vertical farming company Badia Farms signed a partnership with the Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company (Edamah), the real estate arm of Bahraini sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat, to invest “several mn USD” to establish a sustainable farm in Bahrain, according to a statement released last week. Under the agreement, Badia will lease a 50k sqm plot of land in the Bahraini village of Hamala from Edamah.

The details: The project will see Badia use advanced hydroponic farming methods, water recycling and solar power to maintain year-round crop production, according to a separate statement.

SOLAR-

World’s first airshade system lands in Abu Dhabi: Dutch startup Airshade Technologies has wrapped an eight-month testing period for the world’s first air-operated shade system at the UAE’s Masdar City solar power plant, Wam reported on Thursday. The prototype relies on air pressure changes to open and close — as opposed to sensors, motors, or electricity — and mimics tree branches’ movements in the sun. The emirate plans to employ the technology to provide shade in large community spaces without electricity and improve buildings’ energy efficiency.

Turkey’s Asunim to develop 40 MW solar project: Solar EPC company Asunim has inked an agreement with Derbent Enerji — a subsidiary of Turkey's Akfen Renewable Energy — for the development of a 40 MW hybrid solar power project in Turkey, according to a statement released last week. The project will support Afken’s Üçpınar Wind Power Plant and aims to integrate solar power with the existing wind power infrastructure. Installation is expected to be completed within five months across 13 subareas with operations and maintenance to be handled by Asunim Group’s Maxima Enerji.

DECARBONIZATION-

UAE pledges to decarbonize buildings sector: The UAE will join the BuildingsBreakthrough effort to achieve near zero emissions and resilient buildings by 2030, the country announced at the Buildings and Climate Global Forum, Wam reported last week. The push for sustainable architecture in the UAE and the GCC has been growing as a key strategy to decrease energy consumption considering home cooling’s 70% contribution.

What is Buildings Breakthrough? The Buildings Breakthrough agenda — backed by 28 governments and the EU — is a cooperative framework to achieve decarbonization in the buildings sector. The terms apply to new buildings and deep renovation, and push for high energy-efficient buildings that account for low GHG energy sources and materials.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

  • World Bank fund extends finance to help Egypt tackle air pollution: The World Bank’s Global Environment Facility is extending USD 9 mn to support Egypt's Greater Cairo Air Pollution Management and Climate Change Project in its sixth phase. Egypt was expecting to receive the funds from the World Bank earlier this month to tackle waste management in healthcare and e-waste in a bid to reduce the release of Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs). (Statement)
  • Jordan secures USD 19 mn for sewage treatment plant: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a USD 19 mn loan to finance the construction of a sewage treatment plant in West Irbid, Jordan. The project — which is also being funded by the UK’s High Impact Partnership on Climate Action and the EU’s Neighbourhood Investment Platform — aims to provide sewage networks for cities in the area and replace sewage cisterns with a treatment plant. (Al Mamlaka)
  • APM Terminals Bahrain to launch USD 10 mn solar project: APM TerminalsBahrain, the operator of Bahrain’s Khalifa bin Salman Port, is set to establish a USD 10 mn solar energy project in the port to increase its reliance on clean energy and reduce carbon emissions by 65%. The solar panels will be located on warehouse rooftops covering an area of 71k square meters. (Mubasher)
  • GAFI grants license for waste recycling plant: Egypt’s General Authority for Investment and Freezones (GAFI) awarded a golden license to waste treatment firm EnviroProcess for an alternative fuel and waste to fiber plant. The project is valued at EGP 74 mn and will be located in the industrial zone in Wadi Al-Sareya in Minya. (Statement)
  • EBRD to inject EUR 3.9 mn into Tunisia’s Qair Solar Project A: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a EUR 3.9 mn package to finance renewable energy company Qair’s 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Tunisia. Qair will be the majority shareholder of Project A, with participation from Tunisia’s Mazarine Energy BV. (Statement)
  • Oman taps Arctech for 500 MW Manah I solar project trackers: China’s Arctech signed an agreement on Friday to provide its SkyLine II solar tracking solutions for Oman’s 500 MW Manah I solar project. (Statement)
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