DATA CENTERS-

The Emirates Group has partnered with Dewa’s subsidiary Moro Hub to co-locate its data center at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, according to a statement issued on Wednesday. The facility will host the Emirates Group’s technology infrastructure starting mid-2026. Moro Hub will provide services including rack space, cooling, and 3 GW of clean energy annually.

REMEMBER– Moro Hub launched the second phase of its Green Data Center project at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in January. The carbon-neutral project — planned to be implemented in 10 phases — will operate fully on solar power with a total capacity exceeding 100 MW.

GREEN HYDROGEN-

Jordan doubles down on green hydrogen: Jordan has approved an MoU with China International Energy Group (CIEG) to explore investment avenues in green hydrogen and its derivatives, according to a statement issued on Tuesday. The country aims to produce up to 600k tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030 and up to 3.4 mn tons by 2050.

Chinese firms are eying the sector: Jordan inked a pact last November with China’s Hangzhou Huading New Energy (HD Solar) for feasibility studies on a green hydrogen and ammonia plant. Jordan’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry also signed an MoU last September with China’s CTGI Renewable Energy Partners to conduct feasibility studies to develop green hydrogen projects.

In the pipeline: Jordan Green Ammonia — a JV between Polish Hynfra and Jordanian Fidelity Group — is pushing ahead with a USD 1.6 bn green hydrogen and ammonia facility in Aqaba.

SOLAR- .

Emsteel + Yellow Door Energy develop largest rooftop solar project in UAE: Renewable energy developer Yellow Door Energy (YDE) has partnered with Emsteel to develop the largest industrial solar PV rooftop project with 31.5 MWp capacity, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. The project will generate around 50 GWh of clean energy annually, offsetting some 16k metric tons of carbon over the next 25 years. Construction will begin in 2025 and is set for completion by 2026.

YDE is also active outside the region: YDE signed a 24.5 MWp solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with South African Cement supplier PPC, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. YDE would supply four of PPC’s projects with energy from its solar park in Leeudoringstad through the country’s grid. The project will generate 57.5 GWh of electricity in the first year and includes 43 km long overhead electrical lines to connect the solar park to a substation.

CARBON MARKETS-

Two new projects approved for carbon trading on Egypt’s market: Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority has greenlit listing two carbon reduction projects to its voluntary carbon market (VCM) on the EGX, according to a statement issued on Monday. Jordan’s Ampere was also registered as one of the platform’s verification and certification bodies. Egypt’s VCM now holds around 28 projects and has issued over 170k certificates for trade.

About the projects: The first project — Oman Blue Carbon — is Vera -registered and reduces almost 131k tons of emissions annually. The agricultural project spans 5k acres and has seen 300k seedlings planted, with that number set to double by the end of the year. The second project — India’s Solar DC initiative — will generate some 10k carbon credits for the VCM and is registered with the Gold Standard Registry.

Egypt’s VCM is relatively new: The country’s VCM — dubbed as Africa’s first — opened totrading in July 2024. The EGX has developed a comprehensive framework for the trading, settlement, and transparency of carbon certificates, utilizing advanced systems provided by its fully-owned subsidiary — the Egyptian Company for Information Dissemination (EGID). Rules for the market were first issued in May. You can read more about what to expect from the market in our deep dive published in August.

INFRASTRUCTURE-

SEC calls for substations bids: The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) is inviting bids to develop a number of 380 kV substations and overhead transmission lines in Afif, Khurma, Tabarjal, Qirah, and Ash Shayyit for in-progress renewable energy projects, Trade Arabia reported on Monday. SEC also called for bids to expand the Tabarjal PV 380 kV BSP in Northern Saudi Arabia.

Saudi’s grid is expanding: Hyundai bagged a USD 389 mn order to construct two transmission lines in Humaijee and Kulis to connect existing power lines near Mecca. SEC subsidiary National Electricity Transmission is also adding a 37.5 MVA substation to Umm Al Qura Cement’s Radwan plant, and the country’s SAR 13.4 bn Qurayyah IPP expansion will feature a 380kV electrical substation.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT-

Morocco allocates MAD 600 mn to clean up olive oil waste: The Sebou Hydraulic Basin Agency (ABHS) has earmarked over MAD 600 mn (c.USD 60 mn) to curb water pollution in Morocco’s Sebou Basin, with a specific focus on managing waste from olive oil production, Morocco World News reported on Saturday. The agency has constructed 14 treatment stations for olive mill wastewater, with a combined processing capacity exceeding 709k cbm annually. Eleven of the facilities are located in the Fez-Meknes region, where pollution from the olive oil sector has been particularly acute.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

  • EVIQ launches first highway charging station: Saudi Arabia’s EVIQ has launched its first highway EV charging station at Sasco Aljazeera on the Riyadh-Qassim highway. The company is planning two more highway stations between Riyadh and Dammam, and Makkah and Madinah. (Statement)
  • Morocco will roll out e-buses: Rabat City Council and Korea’s International Cooperation Agency have signed a USD 13 mn agreement to deploy e-buses in Rabat. The project — set to run from 2025 to 2028 — aims to roll out the eco-friendly buses ahead of the country hosting the 2030 World Cup. (Morocco World News)
  • Al Tanmia + Emerge form energy partnership: Al Tanmia Food Company has partnered with Emerge to develop a 3 MWp solar plant in Al Tanmia’s Haradh facilities to cover 35% of its electricity demand. Emerge will be in charge of development, financing, design, procurement, construction, and operation and maintenance for 25 years. (Press Release)
  • Bahrain approves carbon emission tax: Bahrain has in principle approved a carbon emission tax, which is part of a broader 2025-2026 state budget package aimed at boosting public revenues and tackling the debt burden. The final rate is yet to be set. (AGBI)
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