Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas, has broken ground on the region’s first 100% renewable energy powered industrial data centres at its Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah sites.
The new data centres will enable EGA to further deploy artificial intelligence and automation solutions at the heart of the company’s industrial operations, while reducing EGA’s total IT energy consumption by 50% through real-time Artificial Intelligence-optimised power, cooling management and latest generation computer infrastructure.
EGA is developing the new data centres with local technology provider, Scientechnic. The construction is a key part of EGA’s digital roadmap, which is transforming EGA’s operations through Industry 4.0 adoption and broader digital transformation.
Resilience of computing
The data centres will improve the resilience of EGA’s computing and will be certified to the Uptime Institute’s Tier III standard, a global benchmark for data centres.
Around the world, computing accounts for approximately 7% of global electricity consumption, and this is forecast to rise to 13% by 2030, according to the European Commission.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “EGA’s bold aspiration to innovate the future of aluminium production is a source of our global competitive advantage, and this includes leading our sector in the implementation of Industry 4.0. Our new data centres, combined with our existing cloud computing resources, transform our data processing capacity. Improving the environmental sustainability of EGA’s computing infrastructure is part of our commitment to embed sustainability in everything we do. The construction of EGA’s new on-site data centres is an important milestone in our goal to establish a thriving manufacturing innovation ecosystem in the UAE.”
Carlo K Nizam, Chief Digital Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Our new data centres will optimise the resilience and sustainability of EGA's digital manufacturing platform which supports data-heavy artificial intelligence and advanced automation solutions. This will help enable EGA’s future ambition of self-optimising artificial intelligence driven plant operations, such as fully-autonomous crane and vehicle operations.”
Hybrid cloud
Last year, EGA announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft UAE to progress the company’s digital roadmap, shifting two thirds of EGA’s server and applications infrastructure to Microsoft Azure Hybrid Cloud. The hybrid cloud combines computing resources both on-site at EGA and in Microsoft’s data centres.
Both Microsoft and EGA are members of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s Industry 4.0 Champions Network, which aims to accelerate Industry 4.0 adoption across UAE industry.
The development of the data centres and the use of the hybrid cloud together increase EGA’s data processing capacity by 2,300 times while significantly reducing unit processing costs, future proofing EGA’s computing for the company’s digital transformation.
Home-grown tech
EGA has developed technology in the UAE for more than 30 years and is focused on improving the efficiency of the aluminium smelting process. EGA’s latest home-grown technology is among the most efficient and competitive in the global aluminium industry.
In 2022, EGA spent some $2.18 billion on goods and services from local UAE suppliers, accounting for 39% of the company’s total global procurement spend. EGA is actively working to grow its local supply chain further in line with the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial growth strategy and ‘Make it in the Emirates.
Source: TradeArabia
Conrad Hotels & Resorts, an international brand of luxury hotels and resorts owned and operated by the Hilton hotel chain, has once again partnered with UNEP West Asia and Winnow to amplify efforts in reducing food waste during Ramadan.
Building on the impactful Hilton's 'Green Ramadan' Campaign of 2023, this collaborative initiative integrates Hilton's Travel with Purpose strategy, UNEP West Asia's 'Recipe of Change' Sustainable Ramadan campaign, and Winnow's AI technology for precise waste tracking.
Implemented across three Hilton hotels, last year the Green Ramadan initiative achieved a remarkable 61% reduction in food waste, preventing almost 4.8 tonnes of waste and over 14 tonnes of CO2 emissions while serving over 8,600 meals.
The ingredients are locally sourced, in-season and sustainably grown. Additionally, this encourages plant-based innovation and reduces the consumption of meat.
The initiative encompasses a range of sustainable practices, including composting with The Waste Lab, food donations to the UAE Food Bank, AI-driven food waste measurement by Winnow and partnering with local charities to donate excess food.
In a pioneering move towards sustainability, Conrad Dubai has introduced its cutting-edge hydroponic farm on the sixth floor. Utilising a soil-less farming technique, this eco-friendly initiative yields 11 kilograms of fresh lettuces, herbs, and microgreens daily with a diverse range of produce, including arugula, baby spinach, basil Genovese and kale red Russian.
A Green Garden
This Ramadan, Conrad Dubai invites guests to embark on an enchanting experience at Al-Waha that is located on the 6th Level where the melodious tunes of the Qanun player will fill the air.
Illuminated with festoon lights and lanterns, Al-Waha by Conrad Dubai offers both Iftar and Suhour dining experiences. It features a diverse menu of the finest cuisine from the Middle East, India and North Africa, including healthy plant-based options and refreshing beverages.
Source: TradeArabia
Implementation of the UAE Consensus, the historic set of measures agreed on at COP28 to aim to keep the average global temperature rise below 1.5°C, will require “unprecedented action” by global stakeholders, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said today during an event which took place at the Paris Headquarters of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
“The UAE Consensus raised the bar and set a clear path to keep our north star of 1.5°C within reach,” Dr. Al Jaber said during the event ‘Beyond COP28: Time to Unite, Act, and Deliver the UAE Consensus’. The event was attended by ministers, ambassadors, industry executives and other leaders, including Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, Laurent Fabius, COP21 President and John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
Noting that at COP28 “solidarity overcame polarisation, inclusivity prevailed over finger-pointing and the spirit of partnership brought the best of humanity together”, which was key to achieving the UAE Consensus, Dr. Al Jaber asked attendees “to keep this spirit alive and build on the momentum achieved at COP28. The UAE Consensus set a new direction and a clear course correction. We must now turn an unprecedented agreement into unprecedented action. Now is the time for all stakeholders to step up” he added.
"All Parties who signed the UAE Consensus must work on enhancing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), ahead of the next cycle in 2025. That work needs to start right now. They need to adopt comprehensive economy-wide emission reduction targets, that cover all greenhouse gases, are aligned with the science and keep 1.5°C in reach” the COP28 President said.
All industries should leverage their technology, talent, and balance sheets to decarbonize at scale, Dr. Al Jaber said, as outlined in the UAE Consensus. COP28 also pushed the oil and gas industry to step up, with 40 percent of global oil production committing to zero methane emissions by 2030 and net zero by or before 2050. While describing these targets as “a good start, Dr. Al Jaber said “it must be built on. I will continue to push for more.”
The UAE Consensus laid out a clear roadmap for keeping 1.5°C within reach and delivered a series of world firsts across the climate agenda, including the first-ever agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, a target to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, and a commitment to end deforestation in the same period.
However, the COP28 President warned that the “energy transition will lead to energy turmoil, if we only address the supply side of the energy equation.” Addressing the demand side will “require smart policy incentives to commercialize nascent-zero carbon alternatives for heavy industry, like hydrogen” he said. “It will require massive investment in grid infrastructure to deliver renewable energy to the end user. And it will require governments and all relevant parties to be honest and transparent about the costs and trade-offs involved,” he added.
Finance is the key enabler for climate action, and every source of finance available – public, multilateral and private – needs to be activated, with “we need new models of blended finance, leveraging concessional, catalytic and investment funds to ensure that climate progress fully extends to the Global South,” the COP28 President said. Adding that “COP28 mobilised $85 billion in new pledges and commitments and launched the world’s largest private investments vehicle for climate action – ALTÉRRA. This model can and should be replicated many times over”.
With the commitment by developed nations to mobilize US$100 billion a year in climate finance having finally been met, and the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance mandated to be agreed at COP29, “the world must raise the bar to address the challenges we face – mobilizing trillions rather than billions,” Dr. Al Jaber said.
The UAE Consensus is now recognised as a landmark agreement reaffirming the UAE’s position as a global leader in the international climate and development agenda. Delivered against a complex geopolitical backdrop, the UAE Consensus underscored the value of partnership and highlighted the power of multilateralism. This unprecedented agreement must now be met with unprecedented action from all stakeholders.
The COP28 President concluded by calling on the industries and countries represented at the event to support in “driving the progressive agenda of the UAE Consensus forward” and “COP28 created a moment of hope in challenging times. Let’s not waste it. Let’s harness this positive energy to drive breakthrough progress”.
The COP Presidencies Troika (the Troika) was a key achievement of the COP28 Presidency and mandated in the UAE Consensus. The Troika was formally launched last week to unite COP28 with the COP Presidencies of Azerbaijan and Brazil and will enhance international cooperation to stimulate ambition in the next round of NDCs.
“The Troika will, for the first time, bridge the gap between COPs. It will lock in continuity, maintain momentum, and help anchor implementation of the historic UAE Consensus. It will aim to turn the commitments made at COP28 into concrete results.” Dr. Al Jaber said.
During his visit to Paris, Dr. Al Jaber also attended the second plenary meeting of the UAE-France High-Level Business Council, where he reiterated the importance of moving to implementation of The UAE Consensus. The Council was established in January 2023 to enhance bilateral business between the UAE and France, with a specific focus on delivering impactful joint projects on climate action which harness the power and investment of the private sector.
The COP28 President emphasised the role of the Council and its members to drive economic, social and climate progress, highlighting a triple win for the climate, economies and the planet.
“Platforms like the UAE-France High Level Business Council can help turn an unprecedented agreement into unprecedented action, by building on the strength of the economic ties between the UAE and France” Dr. Al Jaber said.
He concluded the event highlighting the role French companies in driving forward the energy transition, including Total Energies and Engie, highlight their existing efforts and calling on them to accelerate them to meet the ambitions set out in the UAE Consensus.
Source: WAM
Abu Dhabi-listed steel and building materials manufacturer Emirates Steel Arkan (ESA) announced on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with Finland’s MAGSORT to initiate an industrial pilot project targeting a CO2 footprint reduction up to 15 percent at Al Ain Cement plant.
The project involves the deployment of proprietary MAGSORT solution to process steel slag, while reducing both limestone and fuel consumption.
Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Steel Arkan, said the project, which follows through from the company’s COP28 commitment last year, will contribute to the UAE First Long-Term Strategy (LTS) targets towards Net Zero by 2050.
“The possibility to process steel slag produced by Emirates Steel, is also an extraordinary example of circular economy within UAE, where both business units (Steel and Building Materials) will develop solid economical synergies while contributing to sustainable practices,” he said.
Hugo Losada, CEO of Building Materials, an ESA company, said the collaboration with MAGSORT will drive ESA’s decarbonisation agenda.
He said: “Al Ain cement plant will be the first large scale industrial pilot project in the MENA region for this solution. The objective is to achieve by 2026 the decarbonisation targets defined for 2030 [40 percent reduction], placing ESA as the industry leader in the MENA region, while placing a solid step forward towards the decarbonisation of cement.”
The project investments weren’t disclosed.
Read more: Emirates Steel Arkan, A³&Co. collaborate for cement decarbonization ahead of COP28
Emirates Steel Arkan, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and ITOCHU sign MoU
Source: Zawya Projects (Editing by Anoop Menon: anoop.menon@lseg.com)
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) adopts a well thought-out roadmap to implement all sustainability measures in DEWA’s transactions and activities across all its divisions. Environmental practices are a key pillar to meet DEWA’s commitment to leadership as a global organisation. DEWA is keen to achieve the environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainability, to support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050, as well as the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
Clean and sustainable energy sources:
Since 1992, DEWA has continued to develop and expand its production capacity, as well as its ability to keep pace with the increasing demand for energy in Dubai. The demand for power reached 56.5 TWh in 2023 marking a 6.3% annual increase from the 53.2 TWh recorded in 2022. Notably, DEWA generated 6.2 TWh of clean power during the year, which is 32.7% increase over the previous year. This clean power accounted for 11% of the total power generated in 2023. DEWA is committed to using clean energy to maintain a sustainable generation mix to meet the consistently growing demand. DEWA’s total capacity increased to 16,270MW of electricity and 495 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of desalinated water. This includes 2,627MW from renewable energy sources, especially solar power. In 2023, DEWA reduced 9.1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. This included 6.6 million tonnes through its efficiency improvement and emission reduction initiatives and 2.5 million tonnes through the operating phases of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
“In line with our keenness to provide sustainable services, DEWA continues to provide energy and water supplies according to the highest standards to meet the increasing demand for energy and keep pace with the population growth in Dubai. DEWA is working tirelessly to turn Dubai into a global hub for clean energy by providing 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. DEWA strives to meet the increasing demand for power and water services by implementing pioneering and sustainable projects using clean and renewable energy sources. This supports the UAE’s efforts to keep pace with the transition in the energy sector by enhancing capabilities in the clean energy and reducing carbon emissions locally and globally,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
Sustainable projects:
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park that DEWA is implementing is the largest single-site solar park in the world, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, with a planned production capacity of 5,000W by 2030 and total investments of AED 50 billion. The solar park’s current production capacity has reached 2,627MW.
DEWA has also launched several promising projects being implemented at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. These include the Green Hydrogen project that DEWA has implemented. It is the first project of its kind in the MENA region to produce hydrogen using solar power. The pilot project has been designed and built to accommodate future applications and test platforms for various uses of hydrogen, including energy production and transportation. The production of green hydrogen is mainly carried out through electrolysis using renewable energy sources. In 2023, DEWA received the Hydrogen Project of the Year Award for its green hydrogen project at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. DEWA is also building a pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta, which is first of its kind in the GCC, with investments of up to AED 1.421 billion. The project will have a production capacity of 250 MW, a storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours, and a life span of 80 years. This system boasts high efficiency in power generation and storage, reaching up to 78.9%, with a rapid 90-second response to electricity demand.
DEWA’s digital transformation strategy:
DEWA aims to develop a corporate wide digital transformation strategy to define its digital aspiration, key areas of work and prepare a roadmap to achieve effective and value-added digital transformation across all divisions to support stakeholders’ happiness. DEWA provides high-quality and advanced digital services through innovative channels that ensure continuous improvement of its processes and procedures. By the end of 2023, adoption of DEWA’s smart services had reached 99.62%, and DEWA’s customers had conducted over 12.5 million digital transactions.
Rammas:
Rammas is the first robot launched by a government organisation to serve customers and answer their enquiries in Arabic and English. Rammas has been developed and launched to support DEWA’s customer service centres by simulating DEWA employees.
DEWA’s smart document system:
DEWA Smart Document system is a smart app that provides various services and operations to DEWA employees. All employees can easily access the app anytime, anywhere to perform their day-to-day work-related services.
Digital integration:
DEWA has completed the digital integration of more than 70 projects with government and private organisations. Through this step, DEWA makes it easier to get a wide range of services, including bill payment, information updates, activation of electricity/water (Move-in), housing fees adjustment, refunds, and updating trade license among others. In 2021, DEWA received the 100% Paperless Stamp from Digital Dubai Authority.
Volunteering campaigns to preserve a sustainable environment:
In cooperation with the Emirates Marine Environmental Group, DEWA organised four campaigns in 2023 to clean the beaches and plant mangroves at the Jebel Ali Marine Sanctuary. DEWA realises the importance of mangrove trees to preserve biodiversity, especially in the marine ecosystem. These campaigns support national goals to promote the sustainability of mangrove forests by planting 100 million mangrove trees in the UAE by 2030.
Annual Sustainability Report in accordance with GRI:
DEWA has been preparing its annual sustainability report since 2013, following the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and in accordance with the UN SDGs and the principles of the UN Global Compact.
The report reflects DEWA’s ongoing efforts to keep pace with developments. DEWA is keen to adopt the latest GRI guidelines 2021, which entail that this edition will enter into force for data that will be published in or after 2023. DEWA aligned its previous (10th) report, which reflects its performance in 2022, with the revised universal standards 2021 well in advance of the mandatory implementation deadline. DEWA continues to implement the latest update on GRI standards and its disclosure requirements for utilities (G4) in its report.
International awards:
DEWA has won the Hydrogen Project of the Year 2023 Award for its green hydrogen project at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This was part of the Hydrogen Future Awards 2023, organised during the ‘Connecting Green Hydrogen MENA’ (CGHM2023) conference in Dubai.
-Ends-
For more information, please contact:
Shaikha Almheiri / Mohammad Almheiri / Ribal Dayek/ Afaf Abaza / Mohammed Meshal
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
shaikha.almheiri@dewa.gov.ae / Mohammad.almheiri@dewa.gov.ae / Ribal.Dayekh@dewa.gov.ae
afaf@hattlan.com / mohammed@hattlan.com
For more information, please visit DEWA’s website www.dewa.gov.ae
DEWA’s social media accounts:
https://www.facebook.com/dewaofficial
https://www.youtube.com/dewaofficial
https://twitter.com/dewaofficial
https://www.instagram.com/dewaofficial
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dewaofficial
In a heartwarming display of community spirit and environmental stewardship, Living Business, Imdaad Group, and Dubai Municipality Waste Management joined forces to champion the cleanliness of our precious desert landscape. The Social Responsibility Initiative, "One Hour with the Cleaner," brought together companies and volunteers from diverse backgrounds, all united by a shared goal: to make a positive impact on our environment.
With over 130 registrations for the event, the overwhelming response reflects our collective commitment to environmental sustainability.
Unfortunately, the weather was not kind to the volunteers who ended up collecting rubbish amidst high winds and swirling sand. So through this collaborative cleanup initiative, we uncovered not only waste but also an abundance of determination to protect our natural heritage. Amidst the sand, we found splashes of color from plastic bottles and packaging to discarded camping tools. Despite the somewhat inhospitable conditions we were still able to collect a significant amount of waste.
In our efforts to preserve the beauty of our desert landscapes, we prioritize positive action. Through community-led clean-up efforts, we celebrate diversity and our shared commitment to preserving the beauty and biodiversity of our deserts for future generations. By advocating for sustainable practices and eco-friendly alternatives, we foster a culture of responsibility and care towards our environment. Join us on this journey of discovery, restoration, and celebration of our desert's timeless splendor by signing up for our next desert clean up: https://livingbusiness.com/desert-clean-up-registration/?
Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, has partnered with beverage can-makers Crown and CANPACK to launch Every Can Counts, an innovative campaign that aims to encourage consumers to recycle used aluminium drink cans, boosting the circular economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Every Can Counts is a leading global awareness programme for drink can recycling. The UAE chapter, which held its first public events during COP28, is the third non-European chapter after Brazil and the USA. The programme already operates in 21 countries, to inspire, encourage and empower people to recycle their drink cans wherever they are, with a focus on out-of-home consumption and collection. The campaign runs educational and recreational activations at festivals, beaches and other popular places.
UAE citizens and residents each on average consume more than 60 aluminium drink cans every year - some 660 million aluminium beverage cans in total annually. Only a third are currently recycled, compared to over 95 per cent in leading recycling countries. More than 440 million aluminium cans currently end up in UAE landfill sites annually.
The fate of used aluminium beverage cans is often decided by individual consumers’ choices whether to put their used can in a recycling bin.
Aluminium is infinitely recyclable. Recycling aluminium takes 95 per cent less energy than making new metal, and generates only a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions. The UAE COP28 Presidency and global aluminium industry leaders set a target to reach at least 80 per cent aluminium beverage can recycling by 2030 and near 100 per cent by 2050. Recycling all used aluminium beverage cans globally would save 60 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “Infinite recyclability is one of many reasons why aluminium is essential for the development of a more sustainable society. Aluminium is already one of the world’s most recycled materials, but too much of this valuable material is still thrown away. Increasing recycling requires supportive government policies and the development of infrastructure. It also depends on individuals making the right decisions every day about how to dispose of items they no longer need. We are excited about the potential of Every Can Counts to improve aluminium beverage can recycling rates in the UAE.”
Bartlomiej Wojdylo, Sustainability Director Europe at Canpack said: “For CANPACK, sustainability is a core responsibility. Aluminium beverage cans are the most recycled packaging in the world, and we know from countries like Brazil that it is possible to collect and recycle all cans. We would like to see this fantastic performance replicated in other countries. By supporting Every Can Counts in UAE, we want to inspire consumers to recycle more.”
Sandrine Duquerroy-Delesalle, Director Sustainability & External Affairs at Crown Holdings, said: “We are excited to see the expansion of Every Can Counts to the UAE, after supporting it in other countries since its launch more than a decade ago. Circularity is a key element of our sustainability and we know we have the best package and material to keep delivering it. It is great to see the industry working all together to keep the cycle going.”
David Van Heuverswyn, Director Every Can Counts Europe, said: “I am delighted that Every Can Counts has just been launched in the UAE thanks to a new partnership between the aluminium industry and local drink can producers. Our vision of empowering people to recycle their aluminium drink cans wherever they consume them can now spread in a new region. We are fully committed and ready to make a positive change in the UAE.”
At COP28, Every Can Counts emphasised the event’s theme of ‘Actionism’ by showcasing a large PixelCan art installation created from over 2,000 aluminium drink cans. Displayed at the Sustainability Entrance, the artwork depicted a young woman holding Planet Earth, symbolising the significant impact of simple actions like can recycling on environmental sustainability.
The programme also deployed recycling ambassadors at COP28 with QR-coded backpacks, actively promoting on-the-spot recycling and highlighting aluminium’s sustainable packaging properties.
Last year, EGA formed the UAE Aluminium Recycling Coalition which brings together Crown and Canpack, as well as beverage producers and waste management companies to increase the rate of aluminium recycling in the country. EGA has started construction of the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling facility in Al Taweelah. The plant, which will have a capacity of 170 thousand tonnes per year. Construction is expected to take three years.
The Municipality and Planning Department in Ajman announced that the total number of green buildings in the emirate has reached 8,335 buildings according to the green building standards for residential buildings.
This comes in line with the state's directives and embodies the methodologies adopted in the Year of Sustainability, which continues its journey for the second consecutive year, emphasising its tangible positive results.
The municipality clarified in a press statement that the figure includes the buildings that have been completed since the beginning of the implementation of the first phase of the Green Building Decision issued in 2018 and until the end of last year 2023.
Eng. Khalifa Abdullah Al Falasi, Director of the Buildings at the department, confirmed that the municipality achieved the target number for last year related to green buildings due to its continuous efforts to increase energy efficiency, rationalise water consumption, and raise the vitality of buildings by applying the standards and requirements of green buildings for new residential villas in the emirate.
He explained that the department seeks to build a happy community that contributes to building a green economy, and accordingly, it aimed to provide a developed and sustainable infrastructure in a way that ensures that residents and visitors reduce carbon emissions in the emirate's atmosphere and raise it to be a healthy and attractive city.
Source: WAM
Zero Carbon Ventures, an Abu Dhabi based developer of emission reduction technologies and solutions will establish a joint venture (JV) with Green Planet for Sustainable Environmental Solutions, part of the Egyptian Special Group for Trading and Investment for a waste-to-value project in the Arab country.
According to a press statement, the JV company, called Zero Carbon Green Planet (ZCGP), will deploy Zero Carbon’s patent-pending high technology system, which processes methane and organic waste into graphene, hydrogen, fertilisers and other valuable commodities, at the 15 May landfill site in Cairo.
The JV will be incorporated in Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM).
The first phase of project at the landfill site will be operational by 2025, the statement said, adding that the entire project will be completed in 2027.
It said the advanced manufacturing process at the facility will process 400 tonnes of organic waste per day whilst preventing methane and CO2 from escaping into the atmosphere.
The project will employ up to 250 people once it is fully operational.
Zero Carbon CEO and CO-Founder Martin Reynolds said: “Our aim is to build a circular economy, an innovative and sustainable economic model that aims to redefine traditional linear production and consumption patterns. This holistic concept not only addresses environmental concerns, but also promotes economic opportunities and innovation. The new advanced manufacturing facility we plan to build in Egypt takes every drop of value from the waste that otherwise would go to landfill, making new products to be used again in the market.”
Dr Mohammed Asaad, Chairman of Green Planet said, "Green Planet, and Special Group hold innovation and growth for Egypt at the core of its values. It is a pleasure to be partnering with such an inventive and experienced team at Zero Carbon Ventures, to deliver and scale impactful projects and bring new technology to the region.”
Tarek El-Araby, CEO, Waste Management Regulatory Authority said, "We applaud the collaborative efforts of Zero Carbon Ventures and Green Planet in spearheading this innovative project. It’s a significant stride not only in advancing our circular economy but also in bolstering Egypt's position as a regional hub for economic growth and manufacturing.”
Source: Zawya Projects (Writing by SA Kader; Editing by Anoop Menon)
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s EV Green Charger initiative witnessed an impressive 59% increase in the usage of its "Green Charger" services for electric vehicles throughout 2023, clearly indicating the initiative’s success in promoting green mobility in Dubai.
By 31st December 2023, DEWA’s EV Green Charger initiative recorded 1,145,427 charging sessions conducted by registered electric vehicles, with a 59% increase compared to 2022. Through this initiative, DEWA provided 23419.821MWh of electricity for charging EVs in Dubai from 2015 to the end of 2023, powering a cumulative electric vehicle distance of 117 million kilometres.
The EV Green Charger initiative supports the UAE’s leading position in the region in the adoption of EVs, as the UAE has one of the highest ratios of charging stations to EVs in the world. The initiative promotes green and sustainable transport in Dubai in line with the Emirate’s strategic objectives regarding sustainability, air quality, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Dubai has seen a notable increase in the use of EVs since 2015. The number of EVs in the Emirate reached 25,929 vehicles by December 2023, significantly advancing Dubai’s plans to shift towards sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation. The number of EV owners registered under the initiative has increased from a mere 14 in 2015 to more than 13,959 by the end of December 2023.
“We are keen to realise the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the smartest, happiest, and most future-ready city in the world. This supports the Dubai Green Mobility Initiative 2030 and the National Electric Vehicles Policy. We are committed to advancing the UAE’s efforts to achieve net-zero. This is by lowering the carbon footprint in the transport sector, reducing energy consumption in the transport sector by 40%, reducing carbon emissions by 10 million tonnes by 2050, and increasing the share of EVs to 50% of the total vehicles on UAE roads by 2050. We will continue to foster the use of electric vehicles through the continuous development of green charging stations using technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,'' said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA.
‘’DEWA has launched several features to facilitate the charging of EVs on its public charging network, reduce charging time, enhance the infrastructure, and provide better access to charging facilities across Dubai. We provide innovative and environmentally friendly solutions to ensure a fast and smooth customer experience for users of electric and hybrid vehicles,” Al Tayer added.
As part of its efforts to encourage environmentally friendly electric vehicles, DEWA has deployed 382 EV Green Charging Stations across Dubai, with many chargers having dual charging outlets. DEWA has installed four types of chargers: Ultra-Fast Charger (150 kW DC with ChadeMO and combo CCS sockets); Fast Charger (43 kW AC with Type 2 Socket, 50 kW DC ChadeMO and Combo CCS Sockets; Public Charger (2 x 22 kW AC, with double Type 2 Socket); and Wall-Box (22 kW AC, with single Type 2 Socket).
EV Green Charger Stations are available around the clock at key locations across Dubai. Customers can easily find charging station locations through DEWA’s website, smart app, and 14 other digital platforms.
DEWA allows customers to create an EV account through its website, smart app, or the Interactive Voice System (IVR) at DEWA Customer Care Centre. They can utilise the charging stations within an hour of vehicle registration. DEWA also launched the EV Green Charger User Dashboard to help customers better manage their EV Green Charger services. All customers, including unregistered ones, can also use the guest mode feature to charge their EVs.
Source: WAM, Tariq Al Fahaam / Ahlam Almazrooi
