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Environmentally, the annual generation of 1.1 GWh of clean energy could power a small town for several days to a week. (Image source: Canva)

DUBAL Extrusion Investment has completed the rooftop solar power generation project (phase I) at OSE Industries, a local aluminium extrusion company owned by DEI.

The rooftop solar power project, implemented by Emirates Electrical Engineering LLC, became operational at the beginning of July and is situated on the rooftops of buildings 1 and 2 of the OSE plant.

With a rated capacity of 633 kilowatts peak (kWp), the system is anticipated to generate 1.1 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity annually, potentially covering up to 12% of OSE Industries’ annual electricity needs. Environmentally, the annual generation of 1.1 GWh of clean energy could power a small town for several days to a week, reducing carbon emissions by 440,000 kg CO2e and promoting sustainable practices.

The project was carried out under a Solar Lease Agreement, removing upfront costs and providing a hassle-free approach to operation, maintenance, and affordable energy rates.

The supplier is responsible for monitoring the system’s performance, maintaining its cleanliness, and ensuring the availability of spare components. Preliminary data for July 2024 shows that the solar system generated 109.5 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity, meeting 12% of the monthly demand and contributing to a reduction of 43,800 kg CO2e in carbon emissions.

Phase II of the project, which will extend to the remaining buildings and service areas, is planned for commissioning in 2025. This project reflects DEI’s dedication to advancing the UAE’s sustainability goals, including the DEWA SHAMS Dubai Initiative, Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and UAE Net Zero 2050.

 

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower. (Image source: Empower)

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower) has secured a contract to design its second district cooling plant in Jumeirah Village.

The company has also revealed that construction of this new facility is set to commence in the first quarter of 2025.

The Jumeirah Village initiative stands as one of Empower’s most significant district cooling projects, with plans to construct six advanced plants to support the growing community with a combined cooling capacity of 256,000 tons.

This project spans two main areas: Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), which covers 560 hectares, and Jumeirah Village Triangle (JVT), encompassing 242 hectares. The forthcoming plant, the second in the area, will augment the existing world’s first unmanned district cooling facility, currently serving around 114 buildings with a capacity of 49,000 refrigeration tons (RT).

The new plant will be equipped with state-of-the-art cooling technologies aimed at maximising energy efficiency and minimising water usage. With an expected capacity of approximately 37,000 RT, it will cater to a wide range of properties, including residential buildings, commercial centres, hotels, and other facilities within the Jumeirah Village development.

His Excellency Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, said, “Jumeirah Village is witnessing a surge in investor interest in developing multi-use buildings. The awarding of this new contract aligns with our strategic plans to address the growing demand for sustainable district cooling services. Empower is well-positioned to meet the future needs of the Jumeirah Village community."

He further stated that the company continues to steadily implement its expansion plans to provide its services to various major, multi-use projects across different areas of Dubai, ensuring its leadership in the district cooling industry and delivering high-quality, environmentally friendly services to its clients.

Eve Pope, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, explains how carbon capture technologies can be made more efficient. Read on: 

Carbon capture technologies capable of removing CO2 from industrial emissions have been around for over 50 years, but widescale deployment of CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation, and storage) has been too slow for global net-zero ambitions. While governments are beginning to implement carbon pricing mechanisms or tax credits to motivate permanent storage of CO2 deep underground, a profitable business model exists beyond CO2 sequestration via emerging CO2 utilisation applications. According to the new IDTechEx research report, “Carbon Dioxide Utilisation 2025-2045: Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players”, sales from CO2 utilisation will directly generate US$240bn in revenue in 2045.

Carbon dioxide utilisation technologies recycle captured CO2. The new carbon-containing products can be sold to generate financial benefits while offering a reduction in carbon footprint. The leading fate of captured carbon dioxide today is enhanced oil recovery - a method of reversing productivity decline in depleted oil fields. However, there are many emerging areas of CO2 recycling, including CO2-derived concrete, CO2-derived fuels (methane, methanol, kerosene, diesel, and gasoline), CO2-derived chemicals, and CO2 yield boosting applications (crop greenhouses, algae, and proteins).

Profitable chemicals

Profitable production of CO2-derived polymers has been around for decades. Asahi Kasei pioneered production of polycarbonate from waste CO2 in 2002. The total annual production capacity of polycarbonate resin using CO2 utilisation technology has now reached about 1 million tonnes. Other essential plastics, such as polyethylene and PET, are starting to be made from CO2 via thermochemical and biological conversion routes, with LanzaTech leading microbial innovation in this space. Drop-in chemicals such as CO2-derived ethanol and aromatics are also being commercialised.

While potentially all carbon-containing chemicals could utilise carbon dioxide in production, those requiring non-reductive pathways are the most promising due to a smaller energy demand and lack of dependency on low-carbon hydrogen production. The new IDTechEx report “Carbon Dioxide Utilisation 2025-2045: Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players” explores synthesis routes for chemical companies to use waste CO2 as a green feedstock, displacing petrochemical products.

Decarbonising the aviation and shipping sectors

To date, alternative fuels have not achieved price parity with fossil fuels, inhibiting market uptake. However, increased market penetration of CO2-derived fuels is expected to come from regulations already being put in place, such as fuel-blend mandates for long-haul transportation. As green hydrogen electrolyzer capacity scales up worldwide, production of e-fuels from carbon dioxide using power-to-x technology will also increase. These fuels are expected to play a role in decarbonising shipping and aviation as full electrification of the aviation and maritime sectors is currently unfeasible.

Several CO2-derived fuels are already being commercially produced with many more commercial facilities expected over the next decade. The start of 2024 saw Mitsui and Celanese’s joint venture Fairway Methanol become operational, joining plants from Carbon Recycling International in producing over 100,000 tonnes per year of methanol made from captured CO2. Other hydrocarbon fuels such as kerosene, diesel, and gasoline, which can be made via methanol or syngas intermediates, are also being ramped up. For example, Infinium’s Corpus Facility opened its doors this year, expected to produce thousands of tonnes per annum of CO2-derived e-fuels.

A net-negative future

The new IDTechEx report “Carbon Dioxide Utilisation 2025-2045: Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players”, covers how CO2 utilisation can lower the carbon footprint of ready-mixed concrete, precast concrete, and carbonate aggregates/supplementary cementitious materials through CO2 mineralisation reactions. Players already utilising over 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year in carbonates include O.C.O Technology and Greenore.

When CO2 is permanently stored in concrete, performance is improved, and less cement is needed. Growth of CO2-derived building materials will be driven by new certifications, superior materials performance, and the ability to achieve price parity through waste disposal fees and the sale of carbon credits.

The company will highlight these solutions in South Africa during the Solar & Storage Live Cape Town taking place from 27-28 August. (Image source: Canva)

The company will highlight these solutions in South Africa during the Solar & Storage Live Cape Town taking place from 27-28 August.

"Trinasolar's participation in Solar & Storage Live Cape Town is a testament to our ongoing commitment to Africa's renewable energy sector," said Zhao Lei, head of strategic key accounts at Trinasolar. "Through our advanced technologies and integrated solutions, we are empowering communities and businesses across the continent to embrace a sustainable energy future. Our goal is to make solar energy more accessible, reliable, and efficient, supporting Africa's journey towards net-zero emissions."

At stand B8, Trinasolar will showcase its comprehensive suite of vertically integrated energy solutions. This includes the Vertex N and Vertex S+ with advanced n-type i-TOPCon technology and 210mm platform. Alongside, attendees can explore the latest innovations and product launches from TrinaTracker and Trina Storage.

Elementa 2: Advanced Energy Storage

Trinasolar will also spotlight the Elementa 2, its next-generation energy storage system. Elementa 2 sets a new benchmark in performance, safety, and cost-effectiveness. This Energy Storage System (ESS) offers advanced flexibility and high efficiency. Key features include an upgraded pack design, smart liquid cooling technology for precise thermal management, and a comprehensive fire mitigation and suppression system. This innovative solution is tailored to meet the growing demand for reliable and efficient energy storage across various sectors in Africa.

Leading the Way in Solar Tracking with TrinaTracker Vanguard 1P

Trinasolar team will provide detailed insights into TrinaTracker’s upgraded Vanguard 1P solar tracker. This advanced system, equipped with a state-of-the-art smart control system, is designed to deliver unparalleled adaptability, system stability, and ease of installation, particularly on flat terrain. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about how TrinaTracker's solutions can optimise solar energy production for large-scale projects.

Guided by the mission "Solar Energy for All," Trinasolar continues to lead the way in smart PV and energy storage solutions, paving the way for a net-zero future across Africa and beyond. Its commitment to innovation and sustainability ensures that clean energy becomes more accessible and efficient, driving positive change on a global scale.

Infinity Power is a joint venture between Infinity and Masdar. (Image source: Infinity Power)

Masdar and Infinity Power have signed a power purchase agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) to deliver a long-term supply of renewable energy

The energy will be supplied by an onshore wind farm that will be located in Ras Ghareb, Egypt. When constructed, it is expected to have a capacity of 200MW and produce 810,000MWh per year.

A signing ceremony was held at the Egyptian Cabinet in Al-Alamein city and was witnessed by senior stakeholders around the project as well as Government officials including Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

“We are excited to announce the construction of the Ras Ghareb wind farm, a project that symbolises Infinity Power's steadfast commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions,” remarked Mohamed Ismail Mansour, chairman of Infinity Power. “This initiative not only expands our footprint in Egypt but also signifies another big stride in bolstering our local impact in the renewables sector, creating valuable jobs. We remain committed to elevating our contributions to a cleaner, greener future.”

“Through Infinity Power, a Masdar Infinity company, we will deliver 200MW of clean energy to the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), producing over 800,000MWh and offsetting more than 403,000 tonnes of emissions annually,” commented Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar. “This marks another milestone in our journey to unlocking Africa’s clean energy potential, and further advancing the clean energy transition.”

Limitless ambition

The latest announcement is yet another addition to Infinity Power’s growing, impressive portfolio. The organisation is targeting 10GW of operational renewable energy in Africa by 2030 in a view to providing electricity to 12 million homes. In pursuit of this, the company has marked a number of milestones this year including making a 1GW energy commitment in Sierra Leone and signing a land access agreement for a 10GW wind farm in Egypt.

Nayer Fouad, CEO of Infinity Power, said, “The addition of the Ras Ghareb wind farm to our growing roster reinforces our commitment to positioning Africa as a leader in sustainable energy. This is one of the many steps we will take as we pursue our ambition to develop renewable energy projects in every part of the nation.”

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