{"id":81853,"date":"2024-01-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/climate\/2024\/01\/18\/ksas-swcc-begins-operations-on-two-mineral-extraction-plants\/"},"modified":"2024-01-18T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T00:00:00","slug":"ksas-swcc-begins-operations-on-two-mineral-extraction-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/climate\/2024\/01\/18\/ksas-swcc-begins-operations-on-two-mineral-extraction-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"KSA\u2019s SWCC begins operations on two mineral extraction plants"},"content":{"rendered":"

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MINERALS-<\/p>\n

Chinese firms kick off operations at mineral extraction <\/strong>plants<\/strong> in KSA:<\/strong> Two Chinese firms commissioned by the Saudi state-owned Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) have begun operations on two salt and mineral extraction plants in Ras Al Khair, Asharq Al Awsat<\/a> reports. The companies are looking to extract minerals from brine generated from the seawater desalination process, including sodium chloride (common salt), magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and bromine in a bid to meet as much as 40% of the kingdom\u2019s salt demands. Chloride is an inexpensive<\/a> fluid that can be used for thermal energy storage, bromine battery storage systems<\/a> provide affordable and highly efficient energy storage systems, and magnesium chloride's high energy storage density<\/a> is also leveraged<\/a> as phase change material in CSP solar systems. SWCC\u2019s plants are expected to reduce its waste generation output from desalination operations. <\/p>\n

KSA is going big on brine repurposing: <\/strong>King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and Ma\u2019aden are co-investing<\/a> in green tech startup Lithium Infinity as part of plans to secure lithium reserves from seawater, brine, and red mud. <\/p>\n

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POLICY-<\/p>\n

OECD + KSA ink agreement on energy cooperation:<\/strong> The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has signed an MoU with Saudi Arabia to collaborate on 19 policy areas across KSA\u2019s reform agenda, including energy security and a transition to low-carbon, according to a statement<\/a>. Saudi Arabia is already part of nine OECD committees and follows seven of the organization's legal instruments.<\/p>\n

The OECD is also partnering with other regional players:<\/strong> Egypt began working with the OECD in October to hammer out a framework<\/a> for issuing green, blue, infrastructure, and other sustainable bonds on behalf of government entities.<\/p>\n

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SOLAR-<\/p>\n

Trina Solar launches new rooftop solar modules in <\/strong>UAE<\/strong>: <\/strong>Chinese solar panel manufacturer Trina Solar has begun the rollout of its NEG18R.28 Vertex S+ 505W rooftop modules in the UAE, according to a statement<\/a>. The company said last month it plans to invest USD 5 bn<\/a> to set up a PV manufacturing base in the UAE. The dual-glass modules \u2014 which have a 22.7% efficiency rate \u2014 are designed to accommodate commercial and industrial applications given their light weight of 23 kg, the company notes. Trina is extending a 25-year product warranty and a 30-year power warranty for its rooftop arrays. <\/p>\n

REMEMBER- Trina has been ramping up its activities in the UAE: <\/strong>The Chinese firm inked an MoU<\/a> with AD Ports and China-based investment firm Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Cooperation and Investment (JOCIC) back in October to build a large-scale PV manufacturing base in Abu Dhabi. Trina also delivered 800 MW<\/a> of solar modules to Abu Dhabi\u2019s 2 GW Al Dhafra solar plant.<\/p>\n

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-<\/strong><\/p>\n