The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is reviewing a proposal to provide $145 million in loans for two large-scale solar power projects in Uzbekistan. These projects, developed by ACWA Power, will include a total of 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar energy capacity along with 1,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage. If approved, the loans will support ACWA Power’s subsidiary in building the Sazagan 1 and Sazagan 2 projects in Samarkand. Each site will include 500 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity and a 500 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The total cost of the projects is estimated…
Author: Lakshita Kapoor
Oman and India held their 11th Joint Committee meeting on January 28, 2025. The meeting was led by Oman’s Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry. Senior officials from both countries attended. Discussions focused on trade, investment, and sectoral cooperation. Renewable energy was a major topic, with both sides emphasizing green hydrogen and green ammonia. Oman’s Vision 2040 includes plans to expand renewable energy. India has also been developing renewable projects under national programs. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached RO 2.05 billion in 2023. Indian investments in Oman totaled over $750…
South Sudan has launched its first solar power plant with battery storage. The 20-megawatt (MW) solar plant and the 14-megawatt-hour (MWh) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) were developed by a private company. The project was financed and built by the company’s construction and development subsidiary. The plant is located in Gondokoro, near Juba. It is expected to supply electricity to up to 16,000 households. The battery storage system will help stabilize the grid by storing excess solar energy for use when needed. The plant will add renewable energy to the country’s electricity supply. South Sudan’s grid mainly relies on thermal…
Egypt is preparing to restart the tender process for a pumped storage hydropower plant at Ataka Mount. The project was previously planned under an agreement signed in 2015 for a 2,100-megawatt (MW) facility, but it did not move forward due to financing challenges. Pumped storage hydropower plants function by storing energy in the form of water at a higher elevation and releasing it to generate electricity when demand increases. This technology helps stabilize electricity grids, especially when integrating renewable sources such as solar and wind. Egypt has been expanding its renewable energy sector. The Benban Solar Park, located in Aswan,…
Italian consulting and engineering company CESI Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Electricity Project Development Company (PDC), a subsidiary of the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC). The signing took place in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to the Kingdom. The event was part of a business roundtable hosted by Italy’s Deputy Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Valentino Valentini. The MoU was signed by Pierluigi Vicini, General Manager of CESI FZE, the company’s subsidiary in Dubai, and Abdulaziz Al-Muhaiza, Executive Vice President and CFO of SEC. CESI FZE has been…
Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power has entered into an agreement with Italy’s gas grid operator Snam to explore opportunities for joint investments and collaboration on developing a supply chain for green hydrogen between Saudi Arabia and Europe. The partnership will focus on creating a system to transport green hydrogen reliably and cost-effectively, including the potential establishment of an ammonia import terminal in Italy to facilitate hydrogen delivery through the 3,300-km SoutH2 Corridor connecting Italy, Austria, and Germany. In November 2023, ACWA Power began work on a green hydrogen project in Uzbekistan. The first phase of the project aims to produce 3,000…
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), in collaboration with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), is developing the world’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS) project. The facility will have a total capacity of 5.2 gigawatts (GW) in direct current (DC) and 19-gigawatt hours (GWh) of battery storage. The project is divided into two sites, the north and the south, with each having 2.6 GW PV capacity and 9.5 GWh storage. It will operate 24/7, supplying one GW of baseload power continuously. Indian construction firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been selected as one of the…
The Electricity and Water Affairs Ministry in Bahrain, represented by Minister Yasser Humaidan, has entered into an agreement with Gulf Air Group (GFG), led by Chairman Khalid Hussain Taqi. The partnership establishes a framework to incorporate renewable energy solutions and improve energy efficiency in Gulf Air Group’s facilities and operations. As part of the collaboration, the ministry will provide Gulf Air Group with technical expertise and consultancy services to support the integration of clean energy technologies. This effort is aligned with Bahrain’s National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP), which aims to increase the use of renewable energy and reduce energy…
Nesma Infrastructure and Technology has announced the signing of a new contract with the Saudi Electricity Company for the construction of a 380kV substation in Bisha, located in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. The substation, named Bisha–Solar PV 380/132 KV BSP, will support the integration of solar energy into the national electricity grid. The contract duration is approximately 23 months. This project is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to expand its renewable energy infrastructure and support the growing demand for electricity in the region. The substation will facilitate the transmission of electricity generated from solar energy, which is a…
A consortium of entities has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form the “NovusCrete” Consortium, which will focus on advancing sustainable technologies in concrete production. The group includes the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC), NEOM (Design and Construction Sector), SIKA, and ClimateCrete. The consortium’s objective is to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector by promoting innovative technologies and environmentally efficient materials. The initiative targets several goals, including reducing reliance on traditional materials, increasing the use of recycled construction and demolition waste, and utilizing local resources such as seawater and fine sand. It also…