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Energy

The service began on 12 September. (Image source: Abu Dhabi Mobility)

The Integrated Transport Centre of Abu Dhabi has officially launched its green bus service, starting on 12 September.

This new fleet is powered by clean hydrogen and electric energy, marking a significant advancement in the Green Bus Programme, spearheaded by Abu Dhabi Mobility.

The programme aims to transform Abu Dhabi Island into a public transport green zone by 2030. As part of this initiative, a pioneering study was conducted—the first of its kind in Abu Dhabi and the wider region—to evaluate the feasibility and performance of hydrogen and electric buses under local climate and urban conditions.

Given the scarcity of research in the region, the study involved in-depth technical assessments of various bus models in collaboration with international manufacturers, government entities, and global agencies.

The new green bus service will operate on Route 65, connecting Marina Mall with Shams Boutik on Al Reem Island.

Green Bus Programme: a comprehensive action plan

Abu Dhabi's Green Bus Programme is a wide-ranging strategy focused on assessing and managing the emirate's public transport bus fleet. Its aim is to evaluate the most appropriate hydrogen and electric-powered technologies and offer these sustainable transport options to residents, visitors, and commuters. This will be achieved through partnerships with international government bodies and bus manufacturers, ensuring solutions are well-suited to the local environment. The programme also includes enhancing Emirati skills through specialised training programmes and practical learning experiences in South Korea and China.

Launched in November 2023, the assessment phase of the Green Bus Programme will conclude in June 2025. During this period, bus operators and drivers will undergo both theoretical and practical training, facilitated by Abu Dhabi Mobility’s partners. Certified technicians will also receive ongoing training to ensure they are prepared to handle daily maintenance and inspections of the green buses.

As the public bus system transitions from diesel to renewable energy, it is expected to cut annual carbon dioxide emissions in Abu Dhabi by over 100,000 metric tonnes.

AMEA Power has signed PPAs with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company for both projects. (Image source: AMEA Power)

AMEA Power, one of the fastest-growing renewable energy companies, has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to develop Africa's largest solar PV project and Egypt's first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS).

Following the successful completion of the 500MW Abydos Solar PV Project, AMEA Power has secured two major renewable energy projects in Egypt.

The first is a 1,000MW solar PV plant with a 600MWh BESS in the Benban area of Aswan Governorate, which will become the largest solar PV and BESS project on the African continent.

The second is a 300MWh BESS, an expansion of the company’s 500MW Abydos solar PV plant currently under construction in Kom Ombo, Aswan Governorate, marking Egypt's first-ever utility-scale BESS deployment.

AMEA Power has signed PPAs with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company for both projects. The signing ceremony, held on September 12th, 2024, was attended by H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt; H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy; and H.E. Mariam Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to Egypt. Representing AMEA Power were Chairman Hussain Al Nowais, Chief Investment Officer Aqueel Bohra, Senior Director of Project Development Samir Nacef, Head of Legal Tina Blazquez-Lopez, Senior Manager of Business/Project Development Khaled Arfien, and Country Manager Ahmed Hafez.

With a combined investment of US$800mn, these projects underscore AMEA Power’s dedication to supporting Egypt’s transition to clean energy and cement the country as a key market for the company’s future growth.

The projects are expected to create approximately 2,500 jobs during peak construction and will deliver clean, renewable energy to over 769,800 homes, offsetting more than 2.3 million tons of carbon emissions annually.

Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, commented, “As the developer of the largest solar PV project in Africa and the first developer to undertake BESS in Egypt, our projects not only set a new benchmark in the renewable energy sector in Egypt and on the Continent but also demonstrates our leadership and innovative spirit in pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We are honoured to play such a pivotal role in shaping the future of clean energy in Egypt and on the Continent and this investment is a testament to AMEA Power’s commitment to deliver large-scale renewable energy solutions. These projects are not just about generating power, they are catalysts for economic growth, job creation, and community empowerment. By investing in Egypt’s energy future, we are reinforcing our dedication to driving positive change and supporting socio-economic development across the regions we serve.”

The 165.6MW Benban solar plant in Egypt, which uses Astronergy solar module products. (Image source: Astronergy)

Astrongergy, an intelligent manufacturing enterprise focusing on photovoltaic cells and modules, is preparing to ship 1GW of n-type TOPCon solar modules to Algeria as part of the country’s 1GW solar plant construction plan

The company announced the order after winning the tenders from China International Water & Electric Corp. and the Power Construction Corporation of China. It will be part of the 2GW power plant construction plan proposed by Algeria’s state-owned power utility, Sonelgaz. This will include the delivering of 15 solar plants across the country’s 12 provinces, each with a capacity ranging from 80-220MW, most of which will be built by Chinese companies.

Astronergy won six of these major projects: Abadla (80MW), Batemete (220MW), Gueltet Sidi Saad (200MW), Douar El Maa (200MW), Ouled Djellal (80MW), and Biskra (220MW). Construction on the latter, Biskra, has already begun, making use of Astrongergy’s N5 TOPCon solar modules.

The agreement was witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. (Image source: ADNOC)

ADNOC has signed an agreement to acquire a 35% equity stake in ExxonMobil's proposed low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Baytown, Texas

The facility is expected to be the world’s largest of its kind upon startup, capable of producing up to one billion cubic feet (bcf) daily of low-carbon hydrogen and more than one million tons of low-carbon ammonia per year. A final investment decision (FID) is expected in 2025 with anticipated startup in 2029. The facility will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions across hard-to-abate sectors, including industry, energy and transportation, meet rising demand for lower-carbon fuels, and support both companies' net zero ambitions.

The facility will leverage advanced carbon capture and storage technologies to reduce emissions associated with hydrogen production. The project will also support US job creation and community development initiatives, bringing substantial economic benefits to Baytown, the Houston area and Texas.

Strategic investment

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC managing director and Group CEO, said, "This strategic investment is a significant step for ADNOC as we grow our portfolio of lower-carbon energy sources and deliver on our international growth strategy. We look forward to partnering with ExxonMobil on this low carbon-intensity and technologically advanced project to meet rising demand and help decarbonise heavy-emitting sectors.”

Darren Woods, ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO, added, “This is a world-scale project in a new global energy value chain. Bringing on the right partners is key to accelerating market development, and we’re pleased to add ADNOC’s proven experience and global market insights to our Baytown facility.”

Premium energy basins hold the potential for upstream players to decarbonise while continuing to meet oil and gas demand. (Image source: Rystad Energy)

Middle Eastern basins will play a pivotal role in meeting global energy demand while decarbonising, according to new research from Rystad Energy

Despite the accelerating energy transition, oil and gas will remain central to the global energy mix for the foreseeable future given the growth in energy demand. Rystad Energy estimates that by 2030, more than 75% of total demand will be met by fossil fuels, with emissions climbing as a result. This underscores the continuing importance of hydrocarbons, while also highlighting the need for oil and gas companies to build sustainable portfolios and reduce their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions to meet medium and long-term targets. As oil companies work to transform into integrated energy players and decarbonise their operations, it is crucial not only to achieve transition goals but also to minimise the carbon footprint of upstream activities, with the extraction of these resources accounting for more than 800mn tonnes of CO2e every year.

Premium energy basins (PEB) – a term coined by Rystad Energy – are particularly valuable because they are rich in hydrocarbon reserves and offer the potential for integrating low-carbon energy sources. As such, they provide an ideal platform for addressing emission challenges by combining substantial hydrocarbon volumes with opportunities for incorporating low-carbon solutions to reduce overall emissions.

“A select few basins hold the potential for upstream players to decarbonise while continuing to meet oil and gas demand. However, the race to decarbonise hinges on three crucial factors: accelerating investment, overcoming geographical challenges and modifying existing infrastructure. These changes are essential for unlocking the full potential of these basins and for upstream players to achieve their decarbonisation targets,” said Palzor Shenga, vice president, Upstream Research at Rystad Energy.

The Central Arabian and Rub Al Khali basins stand out as carbon-efficient, resource-rich basins with significant potential, according to Rystad. These Middle Eastern basins are at the forefront of PEBs and play a pivotal role in global conventional discovered volumes, especially as global discoveries decline and exploration activity peaks. Separately, these basins also score highly in terms of renewable potential, with both offering more than 6.2 gigawatts (GW) combined of installed and upcoming solar capacity.

Since 2015, these basins have contributed approximately 40bn bbl of oil equivalent (boe) in newly discovered volumes, evenly divided between liquids and gas. Egypt’s Nile Delta, driven by Eni’s giant Zohr gas discovery in the Mediterranean Sea, ranks third with about 5bn boe discovered during this period, followed by the US Gulf Deepwater (3.7bn boe) and the Central Asian Amu-Darya (3.6bn boe) basins.

With a combined capital expenditure of US$638bn, the Rub Al Khali, US Gulf Deepwater and Central Arabian basins have seen the highest greenfield investments since 2000. Due to the vast volumes discovered, the unit cost of development in the two Middle Eastern basins has been under US$2 per boe. In contrast, the smaller average resource size in the exclusively offshore US Gulf Deepwater Basin has driven development costs to over US$9 per boe, with only the Viking Graben Basin (US$11 per boe) in Northwest Europe having a higher development cost. Significant investments have also been made in resource development in Brazil’s Santos Basin (US$153bn) and Australia’s North Carnarvon Basin (US$140bn).

Several PEBs offer significant potential for carbon storage, particularly in late-life or abandoned oil and gas fields, which are suitable for enhanced oil recovery or permanent storage. These basins are increasingly being utilised for carbon capture and storage due to their geological properties.

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