EVIQ, Saudi Arabia’s electric vehicle infrastructure company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding and strategic partnership with Lotus, the high-performance automotive and powertrain technology company, through its official distributor in the Kingdom, Al Walan Trading.The agreement aims to develop advanced EV charging solutions tailored for Lotus customers in Saudi Arabia, supporting the nation’s transition toward a sustainable transportation future and strengthening the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. As part of the collaboration, Lotus showrooms will be equipped with dedicated EV charging stations for Lotus owners, in addition to providing home charging sockets with each vehicle purchase.The…
Author: Chitrika
Following its earlier announcements on March 13, 2023 and December 30, 2024, Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp), announces the start of commercial operations of the 588MWp Manah II Solar Independent Power Project (Manah II) in Manah, Sultanate of Oman (Oman).This milestone follows the successful completion of acceptance tests announced earlier. It marks the commencement of power supply under a 20-year power purchase agreement for 500MW with Nama Power and Water Procurement Company.Manah II is Sembcorp’s first greenfield renewables development in the Middle East and its largest utility-scale solar farm project to date. It supports…
BESIX awarded a marine infrastructure project at SOHAR Port and Freezone, Oman for the construction of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) jetty which has comprehensive shore protection, and an advanced drainage network. The new LNG jetty will form a key part of the infrastructure supporting the Marsa LNG project — the Middle East’s first LNG bunkering hub to be fully powered by solar energy. By enabling the safe and efficient transfer of cleaner marine fuel, the jetty plays an important role in supporting the project’s broader sustainability objectives.This marks BESIX’s return to the Omani market, broadening its current regional activities…
The Sultanate of Oman has launched its third green hydrogen auction round, marking a new chapter in its strategy to become a leading global hub for green hydrogen production and export. Designed and orchestrated by Hydrom, the third auction offers innovative and flexible opportunities for qualified developers to invest in Oman’s fast-growing hydrogen ecosystem and participate in building a competitive and scalable global green hydrogen economy. Building on the success of previous auction rounds, the third round incorporates lessons learned to optimize bidder participation and enhance competitiveness. A land block of up to 300 square kilometers has been offered in Duqm, inviting proposals for projects…
The Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) based in Muscat, in collaboration with TotalEnergies Renewables Distributed Generation Middle East & Africa and with the support of OMRAN Group, has officially commissioned its solar rooftop project, now fully operational and powering the venue with clean solar energy since early 2025.The project agreement was signed in March 2024, with construction commencing immediately thereafter. Completed in record time, the installation comprises 8,300 state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic (PV) modules spanning 16,600 square meters across the OCEC’s Atrium and Exhibition Halls rooftops. For perspective, this area is equivalent to 63 tennis courts, or two full-sized football…
Chinese solar manufacturer LONGi has announced a new record for solar cell efficiency, reaching 27.81% for its Hybrid Interdigitated Back Contact (HIBC) crystalline silicon solar cell.The figure was certified by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH), the company said in a statement. The result marks a new milestone in the photoelectric conversion efficiency of monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells.LONGi has made a series of advances in recent years. In November 2022, it set a record at 26.81%, before raising it to 27.3% in May 2024. The company has since achieved successive improvements, culminating in the latest result of…
DEWA commissioned 1,530 11 kV distribution substations across Dubai in 2024, marking an 8.2% increase compared to 2023, said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). The construction of these substations and related work resulted in a total of 1,070,670 man-hours, all completed according to the highest standards of health and safety. Al Tayer said that there were 45,317 medium voltage (11 kV and 6.6 kV) substations by the end of 2024. He noted that the rise in the number of distribution substations is a new indication of…
Covestro has developed specialized solar dryers made of polycarbonate to assist coffee farmers in Ethiopia during the harvest season. The initiative, launched in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, aims to support disadvantaged regions globally with simple, effective technologies. Six solar dryers have been installed in Ethiopia, with the project gaining momentum. One of the country’s largest coffee roasters has purchased four additional units for its own production. Coffee is a key export for Ethiopia and sustains many smallholder farmers. However, rising temperatures and erratic rainfall are affecting yields and making crops more vulnerable to disease.…
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy leader, has agreed with Endesa S.A. to acquire a 49.99 percent stake in four solar plants in Spain, with a total capacity of 446 megawatts (MW). The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions, would see Masdar invest €184 million for the stake in the assets, which have an enterprise value of €368 million.These operating assets mark a significant milestone in Masdar’s continued growth in the Iberian Peninsula and across Europe, and further its commitment to advancing the region’s renewable energy ambitions. The proposed acquisition…
SIG and Yellow Door Energy launched SIG’s 2-megawatt solar project in Riyadh. The project, under the patronage of Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (“MODON“), emphasizes the importance of greening industrial cities and supporting the MODON Green Initiative. This solar project aligns with SIG’s ambitious sustainability strategy, which aims to create packaging solutions that deliver more to society and the environment than they take. As part of this strategy, SIG is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its entire value chain, investing in renewable energy, and exploring circular economy practices that minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.The…