China’s Aeolon will open its first wind turbine manufacturing plant in Morocco

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

TODAY: Morocco is getting a new wind turbine manufacturing plant

Good morning, nice people. We have a compact issue for you this morning with some bits and pieces from around the region, but first…

A quick programming note: Enterprise Climate will be taking a publication holiday tomorrow and be back in your inboxes at our regularly scheduled time on Monday morning.

THE BIG CLIMATE STORY OUTSIDE THE REGION- A new study has revealed the presence of a lot more plastic particles in bottled water than previously thought, suggesting that plastic pollution’s health hazards are vastly underestimated. The peer-reviewed study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), has found that a typical one-liter bottle of water contains about 240k plastic fragments on average, up to 100x more than previously estimated levels. The study is the first to evaluate bottled water for the presence of “nanoplastics” (particles under 1 micrometer in length). Nanoplastics are so tiny they can pass through the digestive system and lungs, entering the bloodstream and from there to other organs including the heart.

A global treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution could see the light this year: Back in November, UN negotiators kicked off a round of talks — the third yet — in a bid to hammer out an agreement on controlling plastic pollution by the end of 2024. The UN Environment Programme laid out a strategy back in May for reducing the world’s plastic waste levels by nearly 80% in less than two decades using pre-existing technologies.

The story made headlines in the international press:Reuters | AP News | CNN | Washington Post | CBS | Euronews | NBC

IN RELATED NEWS- The IAEA and Argentina partner on Antarctic microplastic research: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched in partnership with Argentina a scientific research expedition this week aimed at investigating the prevalence of microplastics in Antarctica, according to a statement. The two-person research team will undertake a month-long study to assess the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in seawater, lakes, sediments, sand, discharge water, and animals of the Antarctic ecosystem near the Argentine Carlini scientific research station.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Amarenco is investing USD bns in Egyptian green hydrogen plant: A consortium led by Irish-based renewables developer Amarenco is investing around USD 4-7 bn in Egyptian industrial developer GV Developments' green hydrogen project in Tarboul Industrial City, GV Investments CEO Sherif Hamouda told Al Mal. The project will have a production capacity of 1 bn tons of ammonia annually and is expected to be completed within 3.5 years. The consortium already broke ground on the project, Hamouda added. Tarboul is planned to become Egypt’s largest industrial city covering an area of 109 mn sqm.

REMEMBER- This has been in the works: The consortium announced in June that it is planning to sign the framework agreement for a utility-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production project in Tarboul. GV Developments also signed an agreement with Aramenco in 2022 to invest an initial amount of USD 255 mn in clean energy and green hydrogen in the first phase of the city’s construction. In 2022, Aramenco signed an agreement to acquire a 73% stake in Solariz Egypt with the aim of establishing 300 MWs of solar energy projects.

#2- Algeria has set aside 940 hectares (9.4 sqkm) of land in Ghardaia Province for the construction of five solar power plants with a total capacity of 490 MW, Elitihad reports. The initiative is part of Algeria’s goal to achieve 15 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032. Director of the Energy and Mines department in the province Talib Boukhalifa said that both national and international tenders have been launched for the solar energy plants, Elitihad writes.

The breakdown:The land for the upcomings projects will be spread out amongst a number of areas in the province. The Metlili town will see two plots of land allocated for the project, one with an area of 500 hectares (5 sqkm) and another on a 20 hectares (2k sqm) plot. El Guerrara and El Atteuf towns will each have an allocated 200 hectares (2 sqkm), while Berriane will have 20 hectares.

Algeria has been exploring partnerships on solar energy:A delegation from Italy’s Zhero met with Algeria’s Energy Minister Mohammed Arkab to explore cooperation in solar energy and green hydrogen production back in November.

#3- Brics’ New Development Bank secures loan for infrastructure projects: The Brics’ New D evelopment Bank (NDB) has secured a USD 2 bn syndicated loan from more than 10 banks to fund infrastructure and renewable energy projects for some of its member countries, including the recently invited Egypt, Al Shorouk reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. Brazil, India, China, South Africa, will also be eligible to receive the proceeds, as well as honorary member Bangladesh, Al Shorouk said. The fifth core member Russia was not mentioned, as well as the other recently joined members Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. If confirmed, the move will mark the bank’s first-ever syndicated loan since it was established.

Some regional banks backed the loan: The loan was arranged by the First Abu Dhabi Bank, and received pledges from Gulf Bank of Kuwait and Ras Al Khaimah National Bank, Al Shorouk added. Other non-regional banks that supported the loan were Bank of China Limited, DBS Group Holdings, State Bank of India, and Standard Chartered.

NDB raised more than initially planned: NDB was looking to raise USD 1.25 bn through a three-year USD-denominated loan in October, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg at the time.

DATA POINT-

The world could save USD 2 tn annually through energy efficiency action: Accelerated action on energy demand by businesses could reduce consumption by 31%, saving the global economy up to USD 2 tn a year by 2030 and eliminating the need for 3k power stations, according to a new report (pdf) by the World Economic Forum. These actions, focusing on energy efficiency in buildings, industry, and transport, are projected to drive growth, cut costs for companies, offer a competitive edge, and reduce emissions.The report suggests steps businesses can take including leveraging artificial intelligence in factory designs, fostering value chain collaboration, and promoting clean energy initiatives through industrial clustering. At COP28 last month, countries agreed to doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Libya will host the Libya Energy and Economic Summit on Saturday, 13 January to Sunday, 14 January in Tripoli. The forum will bring together key stakeholders in the energy sector, including government officials, industry leaders, investors, and experts to discuss opportunities in Libya’s energy industry, including in renewables.

The UAE will host the Management and Sustainability of Water Resources Conference from Monday, 26 February to Wednesday 28 February in Dubai. Water availability in arid and semiarid regions, global water issues, and future water and environmental challenges are all on the agenda.

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

China’s Aeolon will open its first wind turbine manufacturing plant in Morocco this month

Chinese wind turbine developer Aeolon will open up its first international plant in Morocco’s Nador city by the end of the month, Telexpresse reports. The plant will be located in Nador’s industrial zone and will have an annual output of about 600 wind turbine blades, generating revenues of up to MAD 6 bn once fully operational.

The financials: Aeolon’s factory — set to be opened on Wednesday, 24 January — was previously estimated to cost EUR 220.8 mn, but is now recorded to have a MAD 3.4 bn (EUR 310 mn) investment ticket, the news outlet notes.

Plans to leverage Morocco as an exports base: Aeolon chose to set up shop in the North African country to capitalize on its proximity to global markets and expand sales particularly to the EU and the remainder of the Middle East. The Chinese firm also has plans to tap into the US renewables market, the news outlet notes. Morocco’s participation in China’s Belt and Road initiative has provided incentives for Aeolon planned operations in the country, according to Telexpresse.

We’ve been seeing movement in the country’s wind sector recently: Taqa Morocco — a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) — is looking to develop a 6 GW renewables farm to power a planned MAD 100 bn (c.USD 10 bn) green hydrogen project in the North African country

Morocco has big renewables targets: Morocco wants renewable energy to account for 80% of its total power generation by 2050. The country plans to more than triple appropriations for renewables projects to MAD 14 bn (c. USD 1.4 bn) between 2023-2027 as part of a target to have 50-52% of its energy come from renewables by 2030. Morocco’s installed capacity of renewables stood at more than 4 GW as of 2022, according to the country’s Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Ministry.

Mubadala’s USD 750 mn green bonds see secondary listing on ADX

ADX welcomes Mubadala's dual currency listing, includes its debut green bonds: UAE sovereign fund Mubadala has successfully listed its bonds worth USD 4.5 bn and AED 750 mn on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) through its issuing entity Mamoura Diversified Global Holding, Wam writes. The listing includes Mubadala's debut green bonds and the first AED-denominated bond by a corporation in the UAE. The listing of Mubadala’s green bond marks the seventh green debt listing on ADX.

REMEMBER- Mubadala's already issued its first green bonds: Mubadala issued a USD 750 mn green bond in October with an order book surpassing USD 6 bn leading to a whopping 9.1x subscription rate.

More secondary listings for ADX: UAE state-owned renewable energy giant Masdar has completed the secondary listing of its debut USD 750 mn green bond on the ADX in October. The stock exchange welcomed the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company’s (Taqa) secondary listing of its USD 1.5 bn dual-tranche green bond in September.

MENA countries are failing to meet climate-related UN SDGs, a report finds

The MENA region is falling behind its climate-related SDGs: Arab countries across the region are falling behind in achieving their climate and green energy-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the Arab Region SDG Index and Dashboards Report 2023 (pdf) prepared by UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The report measures Arab nations’ current performance towards all 17 SDGs, giving each a progress score out of 100, while identifying the trend direction for each of the indicators.

Which ones matter to the climate industry? Six of the 17 SDGs are directly related to climate and sustainability; SDG 6 on clean water, SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, SDG13 on climate action, SDG 14 on life below water, and SDG 15 on life on land.

About the scoring system: Depending on how countries score out of 100 in each SDG — which is broken down into several indicators — the country receives either a red (major challenges remain), orange (significant challenges remain), yellow (challenges remain), or green (SDG achieved) scores. The trend directions for each country are also broken down into colored indicators, with red signifying a decrease in progress, orange indicating stagnation, yellow reflecting moderate improvement, and green denoting that the country is on track or maintaining the SDG achievement.

What were the most common and pressing challenges faced by most MENA countries? The most prominent climate challenges experienced by the region were affiliated with SDG6, SDG 7, and SDG 11. The report concluded that not a single country succeeded in achieving SDG 6 on clean water, with most Arab countries receiving red scores on water stress measures — signifying a failure to manage water resources. Additionally, the majority of Arab countries received a red score for SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy due to an inadequate roll out of renewables, which the report indicates is now moderately improving. All Arab countries received red scores on the air quality sub indicator under SDG 11, with no positive trends observed in any country. None of the countries attained a green score concerning death rates caused by air pollution.

Which countries are doing better than others on SDG7? Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar received a red score on SDG7, while Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the UAE received an orange score. However, all of the countries mentioned (except for Algeria which is in a stagnant stage), are seeing moderate improvements in their progress to achieve the goal. In the subcategory of renewable electricity output (% of total electricity output) under SDG7, Egypt and Morocco received an orange score with a stagnant trend, Oman received a red score with a stagnant trend, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE got a red score also with a stagnant trend.

And which are making progress on SDG11? Algeria and Tunisia got a red score on SDG11, while Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia got an orange score. The UAE and Kuwait were the only MENA countries to get a yellow score. In terms of trends, scores are decreasing for Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, while Egypt, Oman, KSA, and the UAE saw moderate improvements, and Morocco and Tunisia are facing stagnation. SDG 11 measured the concentration of particulate matter, satisfaction with public transport, and access to improved water sources.

Life below water is in the red… A majority of Arab nations received red scores for SDG 14 on life below water. The only countries that did not receive a red score are Jordan, Oman, Palestine, and Qatar, which received an orange one. With regards to the trends, most are either decreasing or stagnating, with the exception of Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE. This goal measures marine biodiversity, overfishing, protected areas, amongst other indicators.

… and things aren’t looking much better on land: Overall performance on SDG15 was poor, with no countries achieving a green or even yellow score (with the exception of Tunisia). The state of life on land for all countries is either decreasing, or stagnating, with the exception of Morocco. SDG 15 measures biodiversity, protected sites, and species survival.

But there’s some good news for Morocco: Morocco was the only country in the region to receive a green score on SDG 13 on climate action, signaling a relatively low level of CO2 emissions and a low rate of people affected by climate related disasters. Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia were not far behind, achieving a yellow score, followed by Algeria which got an orange score, while the rest (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE) got red scores.

Less developed countries are performing better on climate action than their richer neighbors… Low-income and conflict-affected countries performed better on SDG 13 compared to high-income countries mainly due to lower levels of consumption and economic activity, which in turn means less CO2 emissions.

… but they continue to bear the brunt of the climate-crisis: Failure to meet SDGs has led to heightened vulnerability for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the face of climate change, with these nations receiving red scores on the SDG 13 sub indicator on the number of people affected by climate-related disaster. LDCs will require substantial support and financing to achieve targets concerning climate adaptation and nature conservation, the report emphasized.

Suggested actions:To address these issues, the report suggests usingdata-driven policy to ensure inclusive and science-aligned energy transitions while identifying socio-economic challenges.Policymakers and international organizations can utilize the data provided in the report to guide strategic actions including more efficient resource allocation and policy formulation tailored to each country’s unique context.

UAE + Azerbaijan to enhance cooperation on green energy

UAE and Azerbaijan ink agreements on green energy: The UAE and Azerbaijan signed multiple agreements for cooperation in sustainable development across the renewable energy and environmental sectors ahead of COP29, Wam reports. The joint declarations include a letter of intent between the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, an MoU on investment cooperation in power transmission projects, and agreements on green energy export and a 1 GW renewable energy project. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (Socar) also signed a strategic cooperation agreement to supply energy.

Not the first partnership between Adnoc + Socar: Adnoc and Socar signed an agreement to collaborate on developing low-carbon energy technologies last month. The agreement will see Adnoc and Socar explore advancing blue hydrogen, carbon management, and geothermal tech that can accelerate the decarbonization of energy systems in the UAE, Azerbaijan, and other markets. The UAE's Masdar — partly owned by Adnoc — also established a base of operations in Azerbaijan last year and inaugurated a 230 MW solar project in the country with plans to develop a further 1 GW of clean clean energy projects.

Aramex + Odys Aviation partner on sustainable cargo flights: Odys Aviation and Aramex have teamed up to develop cargo operations in the UAE, Oman, and other GCC countries using hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft, according to a statement. The aircraft, which can fly up to 1.2k km on a single charge, will reduce carbon emissions by up to 76% compared to conventional planes and offer a zero-carbon option for regional air cargo.

More eVTOLs for UAE: The Abu Dhabi Investment Office has signed agreements with French company Ascendance and Italy’s Manta Aircraft to join the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry cluster and deploy their eVTOL tech in the UAE. Chinese eVTOL outfit EHang has also partnered with Wings Logistics Hub last month to roll out Ehang’s autonomous eVTOL aircraft in the UAE.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES-

Iran produces lithium-ion batteries for EVs: The Iran Space Research Center has designed and manufactured the country’s first lithium-ion battery cells used for EVs, Eghtesad Online reports. The batteries can generate 15 amperes per hour, have 168 Wh/kg energy density, and weigh 320 grams. Other features include fast charging and discharging capabilities, extended lifespan, high efficiency, lightweight design, and low spontaneous discharge.

REMEMBER- Iran is partnering with China to produce EVs: Six Iranian automakers — including the country’s two largest, SAIPA Automotive Group and Iran Khodro Industrial Group — announced last month their collaboration with China to co-produce electric cars in Iran.

Chinese company unveils CO2 energy storage system

Chinese company debuts carbon dioxide energy storage system: China's Hailu Boho Group has deployed a 10 MW/80 MWh carbon dioxide energy storage display system connected to the grid for power generation, Alsharq Al Awsat reports, citing Chinese publication People Daily. The project — currently undergoing debugging before it is officially operational — marks the first time the group's technology has entered the commercial application stage.

Carbon dioxide energy storage system? A carbon dioxide energy storage system is a type of energy storage that uses compressed or liquefied carbon dioxide as the working fluid. The system can store excess electricity from renewable sources by compressing or cooling carbon dioxide to a high-pressure liquid state, and then release the stored energy by expanding or heating the carbon dioxide to a gaseous state and driving a turbine to generate electricity.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

BYD expands EV sales to Indonesia: Chinese EV manufacturer BYD is set to launch its cars in Indonesia next week amid the Southeast Asian country's efforts to accelerate the adoption of EVs and curb emissions. (Reuters)

Increasing frozen food temperature by three degrees could heavily slash carbon emissions

Scientists propose raising frozen food temperature to cut emissions: A team of researchers, led by the University of Birmingham, suggest increasing the temperature of frozen food by 3°C to significantly cut emissions, according to a new report (pdf). The increase in frozen food temperature from -18°C to -15°C could reduce carbon emissions by 17.7 mn metric tons a year, equivalent to taking 3.8 mn cars off the road.

The details: The report states that the current standard of -18°C was set 93 years ago and is outdated, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and food loss. The researchers claim that freezing food at -15°C is perfectly safe and would make it easier to freeze food at the point of harvest in hotter climates and to maintain the cold chain during transportation.

Behind the work: The research was supported by DP World, which has launched an industry-wide coalition to explore the feasibility of this change, named Join the Move to -15°C. The coalition aims to support collaboration across the industry to find ways to achieve the sector’s net-zero goal by 2050. DP World has been boosting its decarbonization efforts, signing an agreement with the International Renewable Energy Agency in November to collaborate on scaling up the use of renewable-based fuels and electrifying the shipping and ports sectors. The port operator also halved CO2 emissions from its UAE operations this year by accessing renewable power from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

CALENDAR

JANUARY 2024

8-10 January (Monday-Wednesday): International Conference on Smart Grid and Renewable Energy, Doha, Qatar.

9-11 January (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Minerals Forum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

13-14 January (Saturday-Sunday): Libya Energy and Economic Summit, Tripoli, Libya.

20-24 January (Saturday-Wednesday): ASHRAE Winter Conference, Illinois, USA.

FEBRUARY 2024

26-28 February (Monday-Wednesday): Management and Sustainability of Water Resources, Dubai, UAE.

MARCH 2024

4-6 March (Monday-Wednesday): International Conference on Sand and Dust Storms in the Arabian Peninsula, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

APRIL 2024

16-18 April (Tuesday-Thursday): World Future Energy Summit, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

16-18 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Energy, Dubai, UAE.

23-25 April (Tuesday-Thursday): Connecting Green Hydrogen MENA, Dubai, UAE.

30 April-2 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Autonomous E-Mobility Forum, Doha, Qatar.

MAY 2024

7-9 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Global Waste Forum, Algiers, Algeria.

19-21 May (Sunday-Tuesday): Saudi Energy Convention, Riyadh, KSA.

JUNE 2024

5 June (Wednesday): World Environment Day, Saudi Arabia.

OCTOBER 2024

15-17 October (Tuesday-Thursday): EV Auto Show, Riyadh, KSA.

DECEMBER 2024

2-13 December (Monday-Friday): Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification, Riyadh, KSA.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

2024

Early 2024: The 2023 US Algeria Energy Forum, Washington DC, USA.

12-14 February (Monday-Wednesday): Sustainable Aviation Futures MENA Congress, Dubai, UAE.

End-2024: Emirati Masdar’s 500 MW wind farm in Uzbekistan to begin commercial operations.

QatarEnergy’s industrial cities solar power project will start electricity production.

2025

International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

UAE to have over 1k EV charging stations installed.

2026

26-29 October (Monday-Thursday): World Energy Congress, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

UITP Global Public Transport Summit, Dubai, UAE.

Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, Bangkok, Thailand.

1Q 2026: QatarEnergy’s USD 1 bn blue ammonia plant to be completed.

End-2026: HSBC Bahrain to eliminate single-use PVC plastic cards.

2027

MENA’s district cooling market is expected to reach USD 15 bn.

2030

UAE’s Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) wants to provide AED 35 bn in green financing.

UAE targets 14 GW in clean energy capacity.

Tunisia targets 30% of renewables in its energy mix.

Qatar wants to generate USD 17 bn from its circular economy, creating 9k-19k jobs.

Morocco’s Xlinks solar and wind energy project to generate 10.5 GW of energy.

2035

Qatar to capture up to 11 mn tons of CO2 annually.

2045

Qatar’s Public Works Authority’s (Ashghal) USD 1.5 bn sewage treatment facility to reach 600k cm/d capacity.

2050

Tunisia’s carbon neutrality target.

2060

Nigeria aims to achieve its net-zero emissions target.

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China’s Aeolon will open its first wind turbine manufacturing plant in Morocco

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China’s Aeolon will open its first wind turbine manufacturing plant in Morocco this month

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Mubadala’s USD 750 mn green bonds see secondary listing on ADX

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MENA countries are failing to meet climate-related UN SDGs, a report finds

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UAE + Azerbaijan to enhance cooperation on green energy

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Chinese company unveils CO2 energy storage system

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Increasing frozen food temperature by three degrees could heavily slash carbon emissions

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China’s Aeolon will open its first wind turbine manufacturing plant in Morocco

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China’s Aeolon will open its first wind turbine manufacturing plant in Morocco this month

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Mubadala’s USD 750 mn green bonds see secondary listing on ADX

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MENA countries are failing to meet climate-related UN SDGs, a report finds

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UAE + Azerbaijan to enhance cooperation on green energy

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Chinese company unveils CO2 energy storage system

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Increasing frozen food temperature by three degrees could heavily slash carbon emissions

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