Torresol Energy, a partnership between Masdar and the Spanish engineering firm Sener, has been honored with the ‘Commercialised Technology Innovation of the Year’ award at the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Summit in Las Vegas. The accolade recognizes the advanced technology used at Torresol’s Gemasolar plant. The 19.9-megawatt Gemasolar plant stands out due to its cutting-edge molten salt storage system, which is the most advanced of its kind in renewable energy. This technology allows the plant to produce electricity even when the sun isn’t shining, storing enough energy to continue generating power for up to 15 hours after sunset. This innovation…
Author: Lakshita Kapoor
King Juan Carlos of Spain inaugurated the Gemasolar Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant in Seville, marking the launch of the world’s first commercial-scale power plant capable of providing uninterrupted electricity generation from the sun, 24 hours a day. The plant, with a capacity of 19.9 MW, is a pioneering project by Torresol Energy, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s Masdar (40%) and Spanish firm SENER (60%). The €171 million project was financed by major European financial institutions, including Banco Popular, Banesto, ICO, and the European Investment Bank. This landmark achievement underscores the growing importance of renewable energy technologies. Gen Shaikh…
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (SCE), recently met with Oswald Wong, President of Gatoson (Holdings) Limited for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The meeting, also attended by Nejib Zaafrani, Secretary-General and CEO of Dubai SCE, and Waleed Salman, a member of the SCE, focused on the upcoming Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park. During their discussion, Wong presented an Expression of Interest from Gatoson (Holdings) Limited, a company based in Hong Kong that manufactures solar cells, modules, and panels. Gatoson expressed its intention to join the tender process for the solar…
Masdar, a leading clean energy company from the UAE, and Infinity Power, Africa’s largest renewable energy firm, have officially signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC). This agreement is for a new onshore wind project in Ras Ghareb, located in the Gulf of Suez region. The planned wind farm will have a capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) and is expected to generate 810,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy each year. This production will help avoid approximately 403,672 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually, supporting Egypt’s sustainability goals. Infinity Power, which aims to reach…
Qatar’s General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has introduced a new initiative called ‘BeSolar’ to encourage the use of solar energy throughout the country. This program is part of Qatar’s broader strategy to increase the share of renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions. Under the ‘BeSolar’ program, residents and businesses can install solar panels on their properties. Kahramaa has set up a net billing system to make this easier and more affordable. Here’s how it works: when solar panels produce more electricity than is needed, the extra power is sent to the grid. Kahramaa then measures this surplus with a…
Abu Dhabi is leading the way in renewable energy, especially solar power, according to Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). In a recent interview, Al Mansouri clarified that renewable energy sources like solar power are not intended to replace oil but to meet the rising global demand for energy. Al Mansouri shared exciting news about a new solar power project in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. This project, which has yet to be officially announced, aims to provide solar energy to residential areas entirely. Additionally, EAD is working on another ambitious initiative: creating…
Electric vehicle (EV) owners in the UAE are facing a change in charging costs that could add hundreds of dirhams to their monthly expenses, depending on their usage and the type of charging station they use. The UAE Cabinet has introduced a unified pricing structure for public EV charging services, effective 60 days after the announcement, potentially starting September 6. Under the new pricing, express charging will cost a minimum of Dh1.20 plus VAT per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while slow charging will be at least Dh0.70 plus VAT per kWh. This new structure replaces the previous system where rates varied significantly,…
Saudi Aramco has announced impressive financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2024, displaying impressive performance and strategic advancements. The company reported a net income of $29.1 billion for Q2 and $56.3 billion for the first half of the year. Cash flow from operating activities stood at $31.1 billion in Q2 and $64.7 billion for H1. Free cash flow also showed robust figures, with $19.0 billion in Q2 and $41.7 billion for the half-year. Aramco’s gearing ratio improved to -0.5% as of June 30, 2024, a significant increase from -6.3% at the end of 2023. The company…
Saraw, Malaysia is poised to receive up to $20 billion in investments for large-scale solar power projects from multinational companies, including major firms from China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The potential investment includes $10 billion from Shanghai Electric and China Three Gorges International Ltd, and an additional $10 billion from Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced these developments during the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s 30th anniversary celebration. He explained that these investments could generate an estimated 3 gigawatts (3,000 megawatts) of solar power. This is set to come…
Qatar Airways has set a bold goal to use at least 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in its jet fuel mix by 2030, as revealed in its recent annual report. This commitment aligns with the airline’s broader environmental strategy, which includes working with industry partners to promote SAF and low carbon aviation fuels (LCAF) that meet rigorous sustainability standards recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In 2023, Qatar Airways made significant strides by using 3.9 million litres of SAF, achieving a 94.4% reduction in emissions compared to traditional jet fuel. This SAF accounted for over 5% of the…