The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Ewec (Emirates Water and Electricity Company) have launched a landmark clean energy partnership, the largest of its kind in the oil and gas industry, which will see up to 100 per cent of Adnoc’s grid power supplied by Ewec’s nuclear and solar clean energy sources.

The strategic partnership, launched by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Adnoc’s Board of Directors, makes Adnoc the first major oil and gas company to decarbonise its power at scale through a clean power agreement.

Simultaneously, Ewec will benefit from long-term electricity offtake for its current and future renewable and clean power sources, which include solar and nuclear power, enabling continued investment in transformative innovations to decarbonise the energy sector.

This progressive approach supports the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and enhances Adnoc’s pathway to decarbonisation while enabling sustainable future growth. It also underpins the UAE’s bold and strategic approach to enable a lower carbon future.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasised the importance of capitalising on opportunities to achieve the UAE 2050 Net Zero Emissions Target.

He said: “The Clean Energy Partnership between Adnoc and Ewec brings together two major UAE entities to unlock mutual value as they harness the nation’s energy resources to drive economic progress, in support of the UAE’s ‘Principles of the 50’ outlined by the leadership to chart a strategic roadmap for the nation’s new era of economic and social growth over the next 50 years.

“This pioneering partnership highlights Adnoc’s vital role in investing in transformative innovations, advancing decarbonisation efforts, and supporting the diversification of the UAE's energy portfolio. It also marks a major moment in the activation of a strategic, long term plan to further decarbonise Adnoc’s operations sustainably. We commend Adnoc for its innovative actions and its global industry leadership.”

The agreement was signed by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of Adnoc, and Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Chief Executive Officer of ADQ and Chairman of Ewec.

Dr Al Jaber said: “Adnoc is committed to responsibly providing the world’s energy needs with a determined focus on decarbonising our operations, lowering our carbon intensity and strengthening our environmental stewardship and economic performance, in line with the Leadership’s wise directives, the Paris Climate Accords and our energy transition strategy. As we embrace the energy transition, and prepare for COP 26, Adnoc extends an open invitation to new and existing partners to join us in delivering practical solutions to secure a cleaner energy future.

“This landmark clean energy partnership with Ewec, will make Adnoc the first major oil and gas company to decarbonise its power at scale through a clean power partnership of this kind. It also directly supports our goal to remain one of the lowest carbon intensity operators in the oil and gas industry, and underscores how hydrocarbons, clean energy and advanced energy sources can complement each other in the energy transition.”

Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi said:  “With ADQ’s commitment to sustainable investing, these world-class projects are the catalyst that is driving decarbonization of the energy sector, and supporting the UAE’s ambitious and world leading sustainability goals. Through this agreement, we are providing a platform that will advance Adnoc’s clean energy goals and enable Ewec’s continued investment in new renewable and clean energy projects to advance the diversification of Abu Dhabi’s energy mix.”

On the refined products side, the new partnership will further reduce the carbon intensity of Adnoc products. The new clean energy agreement will lower the carbon intensity of Adnoc’s aviation fuel, positioning it as one of the lowest carbon intensity Jet-A1 fuels available and an important enabler of ongoing de-carbonization efforts in the aviation sector.

As part of the partnership, the clean energy supplied to Adnoc will be validated via I-REC Clean Energy Certificates registered by Ewec.

Ewec has a growing portfolio of renewable and clean energy projects, led by Noor Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest single-site solar power plant. Noor Abu Dhabi produces approximately 1.2 gigawatts of power resulting in a carbon footprint reduction of 1 million metric tons per year, which is equivalent to taking 200,000 cars off the road.

Ewec is also developing the Al Dhafra Solar PV IPP project, which will be the new world’s largest single-site solar power plant, using approximately 4 million solar panels to generate enough electricity for approximately 160,000 homes across the UAE. Upon full commercial operation, Al Dhafra Solar PV is expected to reduce Abu Dhabi’s CO2 emissions by more than 2.4 million metric tons per year, equivalent to removing approximately 470,000 cars from the road.

In addition to developing world leading solar power projects, Ewec is supporting the integration of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant to the Abu Dhabi grid. Once all four nuclear reactors are fully operational, the Barakah Plant will prevent the release of up to 21 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year, leading the biggest decarbonisation efforts in the region.

The new clean energy partnership will accelerate Adnoc’s sustainability goal of decreasing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity by 25% by 2030 and offers the potential for additional value and operational efficiencies. – TradeArabia News Service