Electric vehicle charging stations, electrolysers to be built in UAE

7 Jun 2023
Electric vehicle charging stations, electrolysers to be built in UAE

UAE technology ministry shepherds two agreements for manaufacture of clean energy technologies announced at last week’s forum, including vehicle charging stations and electrolysers; Shahin is to meet 40 per cent of DC charging demand by 2030

In a move towards sustainable industrial development and promoting electric mobility, the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Shahin, a new company by NEV Enterprise, which is currently being set up in Abu Dhabi.

The LoI, signed at the Make it in the Emirates Forum last week represents a strategic partnership focused on the development, maintenance, and operation of a charging station factory in the UAE, the first-of-its-kind in the region, catering to the growing demand locally and regionally for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure through pre-negotiated offtake contracts.

The Global Electric Mobility Readiness Index report (2022) shows the UAE, which has more than 300 charging stations, has one of the largest charging-station-to-vehicle-ratios in the world. The LoI marks a major step towards the future of the UAE’s sustainable transport infrastructure in line with the country’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, with Shahin aiming to meet 40 percent of the UAE’s Direct Current (DC) charging demand by 2030.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology. Tariq Al Hashimi, Director of Technology Adoption and Development, who signed the LoI on behalf of MoIAT, said:

“By actively contributing to the development of a robust EV ecosystem, this partnership will have a meaningful impact on our sustainability and decarbonization agenda, while at the same time supporting local and advanced technology driven economic growth.”

UAE’s budding EV market

An MoIAT statement noted that, according to the Global Electric Mobility Readiness Index report, the demand for EVs in the UAE market has been rising over the past few years, and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 30% between 2022 and 2028.

MoIAT stated that it will support the new company in securing offtakes for locally manufactured EV charging stations. In the runup to COP28, there is a particular focus on sustainable industrial development in line with the UAE’s efforts to address climate change and deliver on the government’s initiative of labeling 2023 as the Year of Sustainability, according to the ministry’s statement.

 

Making electrolyzers

In related news, at the same event last week, MoIAT announced that it supports a strategic collaboration agreement between ADNOC, John Cockerill Hydrogen and Strata Manufacturing, aiming to manufacture electrolyzers in the UAE for local use and for export. Electrolyzers produce green hydrogen, an energy source made from renewables that does not emit carbon dioxide at the point of use.

The agreement was signed by Hanan Balalaa, Senior Vice President, New Energies and Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage, ADNOC; Ismail Ali Abdulla, Managing Director & CEO of Strata Manufacturing; and Raphael Tilot, CEO of John Cockerill Hydrogen. The move will enhance the development of the UAE’s green hydrogen economy through the in-country manufacturing of electrolyzers.

ADNOC is a shareholder in Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) which has around 20 GW of clean power capacity and targets at least 100GW renewable energy and up to 1 million tons of green hydrogen production by 2030.

 

Energy & Utilities reported last year that the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), Audi Middle East, and Siemens signed an agreement to cooperate on boosting electric vehicle charging capacity and increase adoption of EVs across the UAE, including multiple Siemens fast chargers along various highways. 

E&U reported earlier on Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) creating a blockchain system to enable customers to carry out all transactions required for electric vehicles (EV) in the emirate. 

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