Dubai Can, the citywide sustainability movement launched in February 2022, has reduced the use of an equivalent of more than seven million 500 ml single-use plastic water bottles in its first year.
The exceptional success of the initiative is reflected in the fact that Dubai Can has been widely adopted in the city, with participation from homes, offices, hotels, schools, and the installation of 50 water fountains in different locations.
Dubai Can has placed water fountains in strategic places across the city, including public parks, beaches, and popular tourist destinations, with the help of its partners and sponsors. The fountains can be found in well-known neighbourhoods such as Kite Beach, Dubai Marina, and Downtown Dubai.
Working together with talabat, a leading online food delivery service, Dubai Can has expanded its fountain locations and improved awareness. Fountains were recently added in four additional prominent locations: Hatta, Dubai Sports City, Port Rashid, and Dubai Internet City.
Yousuf Lootah, Acting CEO of Corporate Strategy and Performance sector at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: “We are extremely proud of the progress the initiative has made and we hope that during this year and beyond, the initiative will continue to encourage residents and tourists to adopt greener practices and lifestyle choices contributing to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s goal of consolidating Dubai’s status as one of the world’s top three global cities.”
“The success of this initiative could not have been possible without the wholehearted support of our valued city stakeholders and partners, as well as the city’s public-private partnerships that significantly contributed to Dubai’s sustainability strategy. As we strive to achieve all of the city’s sustainability goals and position it as the best city in the world to live in, work and visit, we look forward to the continued success of Dubai Can, particularly in 2023, which has been declared as UAE’s ‘Year of Sustainability,” said Lootah.
Changing mindsets and creating conscientious consumers
The Dubai Can initiative has inspired significant change at both the individual and community level over the past year, extending beyond the installation of fountains. Its objective is to increase awareness of the harmful effects of single-use plastics and promote the use of reusable bottles not only at water fountains but also in homes, hotels, and elsewhere, aiming to change people’s mindsets.
Many private companies in Dubai have been inspired by Dubai Can to install water fountains in their offices, reducing single-use plastics in the workplace. Above all, the movement has encouraged residents and visitors to the UAE to adopt more sustainable behaviours and become conscientious consumers.
Refill for life
As part of the UAE’s Year of Sustainability in 2023, the campaign has entered its second year and has become a driving force for the city’s sustainability strategy. The initiative’s momentum seamlessly aligns with the ban on single-use plastic bags, which came into effect on June 1, 2022, demonstrating the UAE’s commitment to environmental protection and waste reduction.
Dubai Can’s environmental impact on the city remains significant, and the initiative is poised to continue its positive influence for years to come. All water stations throughout the city adhere to the highest hygiene standards and comply strictly with municipal, healthcare, and federal regulations. The stations provide clean and safe drinking water, which is tested in accordance with Dewa, GCC, and World Health Organization standards.
Source: Third Party Content
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, on Thursday inaugurated the green data centre of Data Hub Integrated Solutions LLC (Moro Hub), a subsidiary of Digital Dewa.
Recognised as the world’s largest solar-powered data centre by the Guinness World Records, the facility is located at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world.
The opening event featured the signing of agreements between Moro Hub and its key technology partners and customers including Dell Technologies, Microsoft, Huawei, VMWare, Emirates NBD, Digital Dubai Authority, and Dubai Islamic Bank.
Sheikh Hamdan was welcomed at the site of the green data centre by His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dewa.
Following the inauguration, Sheikh Hamdan toured the green data centre. He was briefed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer on the facility’s integrated solutions designed to provide next-generation services in the areas of digital transformation, cloud and hosting services, cybersecurity, smart cities, IoT services and professional and managed services, as well as Moro services supported by ChatGPT technology.
“The development of the world’s largest solar-powered data centre was guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for advancing sustainable development, The new centre is yet another achievement that raises the UAE’s profile as a leading global player in advancing sustainability and the green economy. The centre provides an exceptional model for combining digital technologies with energy technologies. With a world-class low-carbon information technology infrastructure powered by solar energy, the data centre supports the goal of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to generate 100% of its energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.
“Moro Hub’s solar-powered data centre also supports our efforts to achieve the targets of the Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. This initiative is particularly significant since it comes in a year in which the UAE is hosting the largest international climate conference, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28). The new data centre reflects our commitment to support the development of a sustainable economy and our efforts to transform Dubai into a global green economy hub. Moro Hub has always been a frontrunner in promoting digital transformation and sustainability as well as enhancing its integrated solutions to help organisations and companies reach net-zero carbon emissions,” added Al Tayer.
Moro Hub’s green data centre features ground-breaking solutions from Dell Technologies, Microsoft and Huawei including the latest advances in Internet of Things (IoT), Cybersecurity, Digital Twin Technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Recovery as a Service, Consulting & Professional Services, Managed Services, Residency Services, Network as a Service, Moro Open Cloud and more.
Using 100% renewable energy, the Uptime TIER III-Certified data centre, has a capacity exceeding 100 megawatts (MW). Its area will exceed 16,000 square metres.
An exemplary model for combining cutting-edge digital and power electronic technologies to create an advanced green ICT infrastructure powered by renewable energy, the green data centre offers digital products and services using Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, such as cloud services, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), among others.
“Microsoft remains committed to leading the march towards sustainable digital transformation. Our partnership with Moro Hub is another endeavour to accelerate the growth of sustainable digitisation in the country, driven by our best-in-class technologies. Our digital solutions will enable businesses to avail greater flexibility for managing their operations and strengthen their infrastructure, thereby protecting them from any potential risks that arise from cyber threats,” said Naim Yazbeck, General Manager, Microsoft UAE.
The introduction of Moro Hub’s new solar-powered data centre will further drive the digital transformation of government and private organisations in the UAE, reinforcing their efforts to upgrade their infrastructure to keep pace with new Fourth Industrial Revolution trends.
“Huawei has always been committed to supporting its partners with innovative solutions that will help them accelerate digital transformation across sectors. Our longstanding partnership with Moro Hub is an effort to enhance the experience for their customers, offer higher reliability and help contribute effectively to their vision of transforming the UAE business landscape into a sustainable digital model,” said Jiawei Liu, CEO of Huawei UAE.
Moro Hub’s solar-powered data centre aims to establish a global benchmark for energy efficiency and use of green technologies. By using smart and eco-friendly technologies, the facility will enable business enterprises in the region to unlock new efficiencies.
“It is a pleasure to collaborate with Moro Hub’s solar-powered data centre. At Emirates NBD, sustainable digitisation is the core of our operations, and by utilising the state-of-the-art technology available at the data centre, we will not only be able to enhance our operations, but also manage our customer expectations well. This also gets us a step closer to accelerating the UAE’s goals of net zero carbon by 2050,” said Hesham Abdulla Al Qassem, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Emirates NBD Group.
The new solar-powered data centre will help organisations in the country accelerate the pace of its progress and create innovative and productive work environments while ensuring high levels of productivity.
“We are glad to associate with Moro Hub’s largest solar powered data centre to host our IT workloads. As a leading provider of transformative digital solutions, this partnership will certainly fortify our drive to achieving sustainability, as well as position us a step ahead in the financial industry. We look forward to working together with them and are optimistic that this will be a new chapter that will bring positive results to both parties in the long run,” said Yahya Saeed Ahmed Nasser Lootah, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Dubai Islamic Bank.
Ahmed Auda, Vice President and General Manager, Middle East, Turkey and North Africa, VMware, said: “Through this collaboration with Moro Hub, VMware will help empower young talent with the cloud skills and training they need to support digitisation across the UAE in line with initiatives including UAE Digital Government Strategy 2025 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai's economy over the next decade and strengthen its position as one of the top three global cities. As the UAE cements its position as a global technology leader, VMware and Moro Hub will give young people access to the technical skills they need to support the transformation plans of both public and private sector organizations.”
The solar-powered data centre will play a major role in developing a new sustainable ecosystem featuring the latest solar energy and storage technologies, AI systems, and sustainability practices. It will also enable global hyper-scalers to access carbon-free computing and help organisations reduce their carbon footprint.
Source: Third Party Content
Anticipating COP28 and the key role of the UAE in the global efforts to address climate change, ne’ma, the National Food Loss and Waste initiative, has partnered with the organizers of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) and its key national contributors to talk the walk and involve national stakeholders in its goal of reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030.
Throughout ADSW, which was held on 14-19 January 2023, ne’ma and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) partnered in “ADSW: Towards Zero Food Waste,” a pilot initiative that is part of ne’ma’s goal for 2030 and the first-time initiative to be organized at such a large event.
The largest sustainability event in the region, ADSW brought together more than 30,000 attendees from 150 countries worldwide. It was visited by more than 60 heads of state, members of royalty, ministers, and senior global experts on the different aspects of sustainability. A dozen of specialized events were organized on the event’s sidelines, offering ne’ma’s team the chance to demonstrate its purpose of bringing key stakeholders together under its umbrella and proving that curbing food loss and waste is possible.
For the “ADSW: Zero Food Waste” initiative, ne’ma partnered with key national stakeholders, including Masdar, ADNEC - Capital Catering + Services, Emirates Red Crescent’s Hefz Al Nema, Reloop by Ecyclex, Pearl Rotana Hotel, and Tamkeen. Over three days of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), around 3 tonnes of food waste was collected and diverted from landfill, 400 kg of food surplus was redistributed, and around 1000 meals were donated.
Three tonnes of food waste could feed some 7,000 people. By diverting food waste from landfill, ne’ma prevented the emission of 7.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases. The food waste collected was turned into more than 500 kg of compost that was detoured back to nature as a fertilizer, covering more than 200 sqm of farmland.
“It’s only through collaboration with our national partners at every level that we can achieve our food loss and waste goals, maintain our national resources, and honor our national commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals ahead of COP28, due to be held later this year in the UAE. Engaging the whole community and raising public awareness about the significance of this issue are key components of our strategy,” commented H.E. Ahmed Al Shamsi, Emirates Foundation’s CEO and Board Member of ne’ma Committee, as he describes ne’ma’s presence and activities during ADSW.
Capital Catering + Services, a subsidiary of ADNEC Group with a forward-looking approach to sustainability, played a key role in the “ADSW: Towards Zero Food Waste” initiative. ADNEC and its catering arm have already invested in advanced technologies to reduce food waste.
“We are pleased to collaborate with ne’ma to support its national agenda and work on managing food waste, including segregation, collection, and diversion from the landfill, as well as redistribution of food surplus. Capital Catering + Services, part of ADNEC Group has been working on reducing food waste for years. We are happy to scale it up under the national initiative,” said Jonathan Dowse, CEO of Capital Catering + Services.
Hefth Al Nema team helped rescue and redistribute the initiative’s 1000 meals to communities in need. Red Crescent’s Hefth Al Nema is a project that has been active in liaising with UAE households and food outlets to collect edible surplus food, package it, and distribute it to disadvantaged people.
“We were excited to work with ne’ma on this initiative. We have been working on rescuing food for years now, and finally, we see everybody collaborating under this national umbrella that will hopefully mobilize the nation and orchestrate our collective efforts,” said Sultan Al Shehhi, Manager of Hefth Al Nema project at the UAE Red Crescent.
The food that was rescued during the 3-day initiative was collected by “Reloop’’; a mobile application developed by Ecyclex to facilitate the collection and segregation of waste from end users and organizations for various types of recycling. In this case, it helped segregate food waste and divert it for composting and reuse for agricultural purposes.
“We feel privileged to work closely with ne’ma on its goal of halving food waste in the UAE by 2030. We have been harnessing innovation and technology to develop solutions for tracking, collection, recycling, and disposal of all kinds of waste, and we are excited to help now in addressing the food waste issue, composting food waste and returning it to mother nature as a fertilizer” said Mohammed Abdulmoti, Co-founder of “Reloop”.
During ADSW, ne’ma contributed to the various activities of the event. It partnered with Tamkeen to cohost the FoodTech Challenge competition to encourage innovative startups to use technology and innovation to address the food loss and food waste issue. ne’ma helped introduce the competition finalists to key stakeholders at Zayed Sustainability Prize ceremony held during the event. To involve the various sectors of the community, ne’ma took part in the Women in Sustainability, Environment, and Renewable Energy (WiSER) forum and the Youth for Sustainability (Y4S) Hub, presenting in both events ne’ma’s mission and calling for active engagement of women and youth in the efforts for a sustainable future.
To raise public awareness of the size of the food waste problem, ne’ma installed an art sculpture that took the form of a large waste bin, full of discarded food, along with cubic blocks on which key messages were written to highlight the gravity of the problem. The sculpture aimed to engage ADSW’s visitors and the public in the national campaign to rationalize food consumption and to sign a pledge by scanning the QR code placed on the cubic blocks.
Along with Tamkeen, ne’ma co-hosted the Sustainable Networking Lunch and used the event to raise awareness about ADSW: Towards Zero Food Waste initiative, in collaboration with the Pearl Rotana Hotel and other stakeholders.
With ADSW, ne’ma has started a robust national drive and managed to put the issue of food loss and food waste not only on the agenda of major national stakeholders but also on the public realm where every member of society has a role in achieving its short-term and long-term goals. It will continue to work on creating and enabling an environment and an efficient ecosystem to reach its food waste reduction targets.
Source: Press release
Dubai Municipality on Sunday said its new Smart Inspection Programme has automated organising, planning, and overseeing the environmental monitoring operations in industrial and service facilities and development projects.
The new programme will ensure that the owners of these establishments and projects adhere to environmental requirements and standards to enhance their sustainability in line with international practices.
The Municipality aims to complete the automation of all monitoring operations related to environment, health and safety, and food safety.It said the programme will help save time, effort and costs incurred to save the data and records of the inspections.
The Smart Inspection Programme has many features that make the monitoring processes easier. It provides all data by making it possible to view a summary of all inspections, including planned, in-progress, and completed inspection visits.
The programme also facilitates the modification of their details and contact data, adding any new facilities or projects, scheduling annual inspection plans for all inspectors in the system, as well as the possibility of entering and resetting follow-up inspection plans or emergency visits.
Source: Khaleej Times
Sharjah Sustainable City – the first sustainable master-planned community developed by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in partnership with Diamond Developers – has kicked off a sustainable community engagement program with its first event, the ‘Discover Your Urban Farm’ initiative.
Discover Your Urban Farm’ is designed to introduce Sharjah Sustainable City’s residents to urban farming with access to Agri Pods on which they can grow their own plants or vegetables. ‘Discover Your Urban Farm’ will invite the first of the community’s residents to a planting activity in the community garden pockets, with workshops on learning how to compost using organic waste and growing different plants and vegetables suited to Sharjah’s climate.
An enjoyable family-friendly initiative is aimed to further reduce city’s carbon footprint while creating awareness of the food-energy-water nexus, waste management and promoting health and wellbeing.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Sustainable City, said: “With over 110 villa handovers completed smoothly, it is thrilling to see our community come alive, with residents experiencing the many benefits of life in Sharjah’s first sustainable residential development. However, creating a truly green community goes beyond simply using sustainable materials and construction techniques, renewable energy and smart home technology. It extends all the way to encouraging an entirely sustainable way of life. Through our community initiatives, we aim to educate our residents on everything related to eco-friendly living, including urban farming, landscaping, local wildlife, biodiversity, waste reduction and recycling and more. Together, we will work towards a Net-Zero community that offers an aspirational lifestyle that is in harmony with the well-being of future generations.”
Green All Year Round
‘Discover Your Urban Farm’ is the first initiative in an ongoing educational campaign that will take place on an ongoing basis, hosting enjoyable activities and offering holistic guidance on the most sustainable urban farming and landscaping practices, including which plant species thrive in the UAE climate, support local habitats, and consume the least resources in terms of water and soil. The program will also include activities focused on wellness to encourage healthy lifestyle, green mobility, and special Ramadan sustainability programs.
Overall, the initiative aims to bring together residents and promote wellness and sustainability practices. It will also serve as a great platform, especially for children, to learn about the efforts and resources required to grow food and create a sense of appreciation, thus reducing food waste.
Sharjah Sustainable City
Extended over an area of 7.2 million square feet in Sharjah’s Al Rahmaniya Area, Sharjah Sustainable City is a leading eco-friendly residential community, promoting a lifestyle that is compatible with the future. With a total of 1,250 sustainable villas, the city is divided into blocks of three-, four- and five-bedroom properties ranging between 2,035 square feet and 3,818 square feet in a built-up area.
The development is in line with national efforts related to the food-energy-water nexus as it provides practical solutions related to food security, water and energy management, as well as natural resources conservation.
The city is equipped with renewable energy produced from rooftop solar panels and built with sustainable materials and passive designs that reduce utility bills and operational costs. As a result, residents can save up to 50% on water and electricity bills. On top of that, the city offers zero service fees for the first five years, as well as complimentary energy-efficient kitchen appliances and smart home features.
In 2022, the city’s first two phases, including 604 spacious and modern villas, were entirely sold out, and it also launched the third phase comprising 324 villas. What’s more, the phase 1 handover has been completed, with handovers of phase 2 and phase 3 expected to take place in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The project will utilise DEWA’s existing green hydrogen production facility and ENOC’s knowledge of the fuel market to build a hydrogen fuelling station
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and ENOC have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment, development, and operation of a joint pilot project on the use of hydrogen in mobility.
The MoU was signed at the World Government Summit 2023 in the presence of in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, and Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of ENOC Group.
The project will utilise DEWA's existing green hydrogen production facility and ENOC's knowledge of the fuel market to build a hydrogen fueling station and contribute to the Dubai Green Mobility Initiative 2030. The project supports the UAE's hosting of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the country's goal to develop the hydrogen economy and open local markets to hydrogen vehicles. Both DEWA and ENOC aim to support the vision of a sustainable and green future and to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Al Tayer said, “DEWA and ENOC Group have a strategic partnership that supports the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote as a global model in sustainability and green transformation. We are pleased to sign this MoU with ENOC Group to use green hydrogen, which is one of the environment friendly energy sources and represents one of the pillars of a sustainable future that depends on accelerating the transition to net-zero carbon emissions to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Dubai Net-zero Carbon Strategy 2050.”
Al Falasi said, “ENOC Group’s partnership with DEWA follows the announcement of 2023 as the 'Year of Sustainability' by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It also aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33' that was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The agreement underpins the Group’s efforts to nurture public-private partnerships to achieve Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 as well as lay the foundation for a green economy and lead the adoption of sustainable energy solutions.”
The Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company (Tadweer) and LanzaTech NZ, Inc., an innovative Carbon Capture and Transformation company, today announced a collaboration to explore business opportunities to develop a large-scale conversion plant for transforming solid municipal waste into sustainable alternative fuel.
LanzaTech is a company that transforms waste carbon into materials such as sustainable fuels, fabrics, packaging, and other products that people use in their daily lives.
Ali Al Dhaheri, Chief Executive Officer of Tadweer, said, "This is another great partnership we are exploring in 2023 – the UAE's Year of Sustainability. It exemplifies our commitment to partnering with leading waste management entities and driving sustainability across our organisation. We believe that waste is a resource to be harnessed, and with LanzaTech's support, we aim to make this a reality."
"The project represents a tremendous opportunity to protect the planet by turning waste carbon into sustainable aviation fuel, keeping fossil fuels in the ground," said Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaTech.
He added, "The carbon found in municipal solid waste, which is piling up in landfills or being incinerated globally, can play a critical role in eliminating the virgin fossil resources used to make fuels and chemicals. It is a testament to the UAE's leadership and strong sustainability agenda that our technology has found a home here. This collaboration further advances the US and UAE's Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) and provides a foundation for deepening cooperation on circular economy and low-carbon fuels.
Source: WAM, Rola AlGhoul/ Esraa Esmail
Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has successfully priced its second Sustainable Sukuk – a landmark US$1 billion 5.5-year senior issue with a profit rate of 4.80 percent per annum, representing a spread of 102.4 bps over 5-Year US Treasuries.
The Sukuk was issued in line with DIB’s Sustainable Finance Framework, which was created to facilitate financing of green and social initiatives and projects. This deal achieved several landmarks including the largest issuance by a Middle East financial institution in the international capital markets since June 2021 and the largest-ever sustainable issuance by a Middle East Financial Institution.
This deal once again demonstrated DIB’s leadership in Islamic and Sustainable finance, with an established and strong investor following from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The Sukuk was priced after completing a comprehensive marketing exercise where DIB updated investors on its positive financial performance as well as its Sustainable Finance Framework.
The response from investors was overwhelming and despite issuing a larger size (US$1 billion), DIB achieved a 3x oversubscription - which itself was the largest book size seen for a GCC bank in over a year.
Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group Chief Executive Officer, DIB, commented, “Driven by our detailed and meticulously crafted balanced growth strategy as well as the bank’s commitment towards the Sustainability agenda of the UAE and the larger ‘Net Zero by 2050’ goal of the nation, we are delighted to announce the issuance of our second Sustainable Sukuk today, the largest-ever by a Middle East Financial Institution.
"The success of DIB’s inaugural sukuk in 2022 strongly reflected the market’s faith in the franchise and the reputation the bank enjoys in the local and international capital markets. The investor response for this latest issuance was overwhelming with more than US$3bn of orders allowing us to issue a larger size well within our pricing parameters. I would like to thank our investors for the continued trust and confidence placed in DIB. As the country prepares to host COP 28, we remain committed to play an active role in fulfilling the UAE’s long-term sustainability objectives. We hope the success of our offering will encourage other issuers from the UAE to follow suit in this format.”
The Sukuk is issued under DIB Sukuk Ltd. and is listed on Euronext Dublin and NASDAQ Dubai. Standard Chartered Bank acted as Sole Sustainability Structurer while Bank ABC, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, KFH Capital, Mashreq, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector acted as Joint Lead Managers and Bookrunners on the transaction.
Source: Esraa Esmail / Binsal Abdulkader - Emirates News Agency
Al Fattan Energy will join hands with LTechUVC, a company based in South Korea, to produce green hydrogen-based ammonia.
On January 19, Al Fattan Group and LTechUVC, a hydrogen-based smart city consulting company in Korea, attended Al Fattan Energy headquarters in Abu Dhabi for the official signing of a “200MW green hydrogen-based ammonia business investment contract” with AL Fattan Energy (AFE), a subsidiary of Al Fattan Holding and Investment.
The objective of this initiative is to build a 200MW class green hydrogen and ammonia production project with a total project cost of about USD 400 million. The facility will, provisionally, be situated in KEZAD, the largest industrial complex in Abu Dhabi
This venture is a synergistic alliance that brings together the strong credentials of AFE in designing, executing, and delivering EPC projects, and the expertise of LTechUVC in offering and developing utility-scale renewable energy solutions.
Al Fattan Energy, a subsidiary of Al Fattan Holding Investment, specializes in nuclear, oil & gas and renewable energy engineering in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.
LTechUVC is a consulting company specializing in hydrogen-based energy businesses, with a 20MW hydrogen fuel cell project due to start construction in May this year. .
Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced using renewable energy, and green ammonia is synthesized using green hydrogen as a feedstock.
Korea is one of the world's top three ammonia importers. Recently the Korean government has decided to promote green ammonia mixed combustion power generation in coal and gas-fired power plants to achieve 'zero greenhouse gas emissions' by 2050.
Al Fattan Energy CEO said, "At a time when the interest in eco-friendly energy is high worldwide, we strive to establish ourselves as a leader in the global hydrogen economy together with Korean companies with technological prowess."
The Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has endorsed a plan to transform taxis in Dubai (Dubai Taxi and franchise company taxis) into 100% environmentally friendly (hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered) by 2027. The move meets the requirements of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the Green Economy drive, and the Dubai Government's strategic directions toward comprehensive environmental sustainability.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, said, “The plan to transform taxis into environmentally-friendly vehicles translates the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai to optimise energy usage and promote environmental sustainability in the UAE. RTA has taken decisive action toward creating a safe, clean, and sustainable environment that befits Dubai's reputation. This initiative supports the Dubai Government's efforts to introduce green vehicles and promote a cleaner environment.
RTA has made remarkable progress in this regard, successfully transforming 72% of the taxis in Dubai into environmentally friendly vehicles, comprising a total of 8,221 hybrid vehicles. This significant accomplishment aligns with the overarching goal of optimising energy usage, creating a sustainable environment, and positioning Dubai as a leader in promoting green transportation.
“The 5-year plan (2023-2027) aims to switch the entire taxi fleet into fully environmentally-friendly (hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered) within five years at a rate of 10% per annum to achieve the targeted 100% by 2027. The plan is aligned with RTA’s roadmap for transforming public transport means into emission-free by 2050,” explained Al Tayer.
“The results of experiments on eco-friendly vehicles, which RTA started trialling in 2008, confirmed the environmental benefits of reducing carbon emissions, fuel consumption, and maintenance costs, as well as decreasing noise levels. Hybrid vehicles also have a longer lifespan compared to regular vehicles and cost less in the long run. They are characterised by lower purchase prices, maintenance fees, fuel expenses, insurance premiums, and other associated costs that potentially could be as low as 50% of regular vehicles,” he further added.
