Ideal Standard has launched its new sustainability report, entitled ‘Together for a Better Future’. As well as a roadmap to carbon neutrality, the report defines the company’s approach to waste management, sustainable packaging and how the business achieved and maintains world-class safety standards in all its operations.
The report sets out Ideal Standard’s nine key commitments in areas such as decarbonisation, the circular economy, product innovation, safety and equality, which together will drive impactful change. These nine goals are closely aligned with the sustainability principles defined by the UN Global Compact, which the company joined in 2022, as a mark of its commitment to responsible business actions. ‘Together for a Better Future’ defines clear and accountable goals to monitor and measure progress along the manufacturer’s journey, including its aim to reduce Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 30% in 2030, with a view to reaching complete carbon neutrality by 2050.
Ideal Standard has already made significant steps on its sustainability journey, transitioning its UK ceramic plant to fully renewable electricity in 2021, saving 2,200 tonnes of CO2 each year. It has also installed over 3,000 photovoltaic panels at its German fittings plant, which will generate 1.2 million kWh of energy a year and switched to 100% FFS/PEFC sustainable certified timber in all its products.
The company has also embarked on a journey to achieve zero-waste to landfill by 2030. Ideal Standard is already reusing 100% of its brass and acrylic waste in its own manufacturing processes and is currently working with environmental authorities to unlock new technical solutions to improve its recycling of ceramic waste from 70% to 100% by 2025. Furthermore, it is committed to eliminating all single use plastic packaging by 2025 and has so far removed 80 tonnes of virgin plastic from its packaging through optimisation and transitioning to sustainable alternatives.
Building on Its commitment to sustainability efforts, Ideal Standard recently launched Aesth|ethics, a temporary pop-up showroom in Venice. This event highlighted Ideal Standard’s design prowess, ethical achievements, and sustainability commitments. The carbon-neutral pop-up, held at Arsenale di Venezia, showcased bathroom solutions across product categories and featured a special installation by Chief Design Officer Roberto Palomba. Ideal Standard also partnered with Up2You to offset the event’s carbon emissions, reinforcing their dedication to a sustainable future.
Transparency is at the heart of Ideal Standard’s sustainability programme and, as such, the company is in the process of publishing ‘cradle to grave’ Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for over 5,000 of its products within its largely European supply chain. These EPDs will help architects and specifiers understand the environmental impact of Ideal Standard’s products, how they affect the ecological footprint of their projects and help them to meet environmental targets. These full life-cycle assessments will cover products across all product categories including taps, basins, toilets, cisterns, bathtubs, shower trays and more, providing detailed and independently verified information for all bathroom fixtures. The report also launches the company’s new EcoLogic concept. EcoLogic focuses on four key values to enable customers to easily understand the sustainable benefits of Ideal Standard’s product portfolio and make informed purchasing decisions.
Speaking on the project, Ahmed Hafez, CEO Ideal Standard MENA, said: “As one of the leading bathroom manufacturers, we recognise that we have an important role to play when it comes to shaping a responsible future for the industry, and we’re committed to stepping up to that challenge.
“There’s no one single change we will make as a company that will make us completely sustainable. It’s about looking across the business and making sure that in every area we are committing to progressive, constant change to ensure we make a genuine impact.”
Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports, one of the most prestigious university esports competitions in the MENA region organised by MENA Tech Entertainment, has now completed its Spring Split in the UAE. More than 850 players from over 40 universities took part in the competition throughout the Spring term.
List of winners
In Riot Games’ titles, ‘We Scalin’, a team formed by players from Zayed University, United Arab Emirates University, American University of Sharjah, College De Paris and from the Abu Dhabi University, won the League of Legends finals. The champion team in VALORANT was ‘Zoomers’, with players from Ajman University, University of Birmingham, Heriot-Watt University and the Rochester Institute of Technology of Dubai.
The winning teams of this split will represent the UAE in the Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports Masters MENA Series. This competition will bring together the best university teams from KSA, UAE, Egypt and Morocco. The dates of this competition are still to be confirmed.
Esports has experienced explosive growth and become a significant force in the entertainment industry especially among university students. Esports programs allow students to compete in organised tournaments and leagues. The growth can be attributed to the increasing popularity of video games as a form of entertainment, with many players having a higher purchasing power. Additionally, the rise of streaming services has made it easier for fans to access esports events. According to Newzoo, the games market will exceed $200 billion at the end of 2023. Currently standing at $1.8bn, revenues generated by the gaming industry in the MENA region are expected to reach $5bn by 2025. MENA Tech is leading the charge for esports enthusiasts in the region, organising tournaments and other events to advance the burgeoning industry.
One of the highlights of this season was the collaboration signed between Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports and HP OMEN to improve the gaming experience for competitors with the latest technologies and features in PC gaming, supporting the growth of the university’s educational technology project.
A core mission of Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports is supporting the grassroots esports industry through real world career development opportunities. For this reason, it offers the opportunity for students who are interested in learning more about the industry to make their first professional experiences. To this end, the organisation opens its doors to learn roles such as broadcasters, commentators, producers, social media, and many other areas of the ecosystem.
This season of Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports also presented its UNIVERSITY Tour for the first time in the UAE. The UNIVERSITY Tour aims to bring the competition closer to university students so that they get to know about it and can be encouraged to participate.
The tour consists of a route that passes through different universities throughout the country. An environment that simulates a competitive environment is created in each of them. The purpose of this is to simulate what students would experience if they participated in Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports.
Mario Perez, CEO of MENATech commented: “The Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports team is pleased to have successfully completed a new season. This has been a year of great challenges and learning, focused on improving the students’ experience.With a majority of the population in the MENA region under 30 years old, it is our hope that next year’s competition will continue to grow, with more students and universities participating.”
Supporting the student esports community
Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports is made possible thanks to the support of top-level publishers and brands such as Riot Games, Ubisoft and HP OMEN.
Currently, businesses in Europe and beyond are grappling with changing regulatory frameworks, economic turbulence, rapid price increases and supply shortages. All the while, the imperative to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future has never been greater.
This year’s Responsible Business Europe 2023, held at the Novotel London West, brings together over 500 sustainability, financial and government leaders to navigate near-term pressures without detracting from long-term sustainability goals.
Bolstering biodiversity
With the 2030 climate target fast approaching, it’s essential that businesses are actively targeting lower emissions throughout their supply chains. However, a repeated theme throughout the first day of the event was a warning against what Musidora Jorgensen, Chief Sustainability Officer, Microsoft, called “carbon tunnel vision.” Many of the speakers at the event highlighted the need to widen the sustainability focus to include biodiversity, something which until recently has been largely overlooked.
The session on ‘Embracing regenerative business practices in the quest to net zero’ explored this in-depth, highlighting initiatives such as the 30×30 initiative and the need for businesses to measure their dependencies and impact on nature. After all, as Isabelle Sultan, Chief Sustainability Officer, Parfums Christian Dior, outlined, around 50% of global GDP is dependent on ecosystem services.
Mark Griffiths, Managing Director EMEA, Climate Impact Partners, explained that the market is moving toward climate action on biodiversity and cited reforestation projects in Colombia as an example of this. There, indigenous species are being planted; Griffiths explained regenerating land sequesters carbon and encourages biodiversity. Likewise, he referenced similar projects in Africa, focusing on planting bamboo, which he said adds a revenue source for local communities while bolstering biodiversity. Indeed Sultan highlighted the importance of prioritising people as well as the planet and evaluating supply chains to ensure that ethical nature approaches match social impact. Likewise, the importance of a ‘just’ transition was repeatedly highlighted, with the S of ESG a vital consideration.
Griffiths added that the voluntary carbon market, through projects like the above, can enhance revenue and brand loyalty while mitigating risk. “Taking action early will benefit you,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sultan urged companies to be “bold” – Griffiths echoed this, noting that speed and action are critical, and called for more to join the so-called “green arms race.”
Standardisation, collaboration and reporting
While in Europe, regulation around sustainability is ramping up, panellists were unified in their call for greater standardisation. Wouter Kolk, Europe & Indonesia CEO, Ahold Delhaize, for example, noted that for systemic change, industry-wide standards are an imperative; knowledge-sharing across industries was also highlighted as central, as was collaboration. Regarding the latter, Kolk said this is particularly essential with regard to Scope 3.
Businesses will also need to prepare for the wave of incoming regulatory changes, for example, the introduction of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDD). Comparatively, while there are growing regulatory pressures on companies in the MENA, the legislative framework is not yet as robust and developing more slowly.
Panels also explored the evolution of the ESG reporting landscape, especially in light of upcoming regulatory changes and, critically, balancing reporting with action. Here, speakers including Richard Hall, VP General Secretary UK&I, Danone discussed investment in data systems to streamline reporting, something that was explored further in the Technology and Net Zero workshop. In this session, Oriol Margo, Sustainability Transformation Leader EMEA, Kimberly-Clark, commented that AI could help facilitate data analysis.
ESG data processing and analysis was also something that Magali Anderson, Chief Sustainability & Innovation Officer, Holcim, explored in the ‘Embedding sustainability across the business’ keynote. Anderson suggested that businesses’ finance departments should deal with the data side of things, to leave sustainability teams to focus on implementing change.
Balancing planet protection & profit
The panel on sustainable growth saw Juan Jose Freijo, Chief Sustainability Officer, Brambles and Sandrine Sommer, Chief Sustainability Officer, Moet Hennessy, discuss how sustainability does not have to come at the expense of profit. In fact, the two presented examples of how it can boost profit in the long term.
Of course, as the panel highlighted, to make sustainability approaches sustainable, there is a financial aspect that must be taken into account. Freijo says when forming a sustainability strategy, it comes down to risk, cost and profit; here, he used the example Brambles of using certified sustainable timber. In this case, Freijo said it was the more cost-effective option, as the sustainability strategy required working closely with suppliers throughout the supply chain, which led to more efficient processes and closer long-term relationships. When supply chain issues hit, these strong supplier relationships helped the company to be more resilient against its impacts. This strong sustainability focus, he said, is also a pull to customers.
In terms of balancing long-term goals with short-term profit, Freijo said demonstrating the value of this approach can justify the business case in the longer term; this is built through cultural change, said Freijo. This was echoed by Catherine Howarth, CEO, ShareAction, who said that short-term has “dominated for too long.”
The panel was also asked, from an environmental perspective and considering planetary boundaries, if businesses should begin to think about degrowth. Sommer commented that Moet Hennessy is focusing on value growth, rather than volume growth.
Embedding ESG across the business landscape
Throughout the day, there was an emphasis on embedding ESG throughout businesses at all levels, finding ways to energise the workforce about sustainability, and encouraging businesses to return to education.
Deepak Jobanputra, Chief Sustainability Officer, Vitality, noted that culture doesn’t change overnight, and businesses must make concerted efforts to increase sustainability engagement. He noted that it’s all about creating education and awareness across businesses and “winning the hearts and minds” of people. Jobanputra highlighted Vitality’s Green Champions, integrating conversations about sustainability into town hall meetings and having regular senior leadership meetings. Jörg Eigendorf, Chief Sustainability Officer, Deutsche Bank, echoed this and emphasised the need for governance.
A look ahead
ESG Mena is proud to provide coverage for the two-day event and will be sharing insights, analysis, and updates in real-time. The day ahead will feature discussions on maintaining sustainability investments in the current macroeconomic environment, measuring business impacts on nature, Scope 3 emissions and more. Check in for the latest conference updates and key insights into how your business can best navigate the sustainability transition.
During Egypt’s “Forum of Sustainability and Government Action”, the UAE Government and the Arab Administrative Development Organisation (ARADO) of the Arab League launched a report titled “Sustainability and Government Action: Arab Government Situation”. This launch is part of the UAE’s commitment to the Year of Sustainability.
Among the attendees were Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, ARADO’s Director-General Nasser Al Hatlan Al Qahtani, and various other Arab ministers and officials linked to administrative development and sustainability.
The report, based on interviews with 1,800 Arab government officials, recommended the development of smart cities, the encouragement of green financing, the effective use of private sector resources, and the need to increase awareness in pertinent fields.
Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, underscored the pivotal role governments play in mitigating climate change by formulating appropriate strategies that align with global climate objectives. This includes collaboration with relevant regional and international organisations.
Al Roumi, during her keynote speech at the forum, emphasised the necessity of crafting policies and laws that support sustainable green transformation. She also highlighted the importance of fostering public-private partnerships to attain climate neutrality.
The report will guide Arab governments towards sustainability and climate change mitigation while addressing related economic and social challenges, Al Roumi added. She pointed out the opportunities for long-term economic growth presented in the report, including proactive climate policies and measures, and underscored the need for resilience in adapting to green government requirements.
Al Qahtani shared that the report’s launch reflects Arab governments’ commitment to environmental protection and climate change mitigation. He further noted that the initiative would advance Arab administrative development, crucial for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.
In conclusion, the report emphasised that hosting COP28 in the UAE presents an opportunity to attract regional investments and establish partnerships across various sectors.
Schneider Electric and Crédit Agricole Egypt Foundation joined forces with Gebal for Agriculture, Sustainability, and Livelihoods to launch sustainable development projects in Menoufia Governorate’s villages, Shubra Qubala and Mit El Qasri. These projects are addressing the water, food, and energy Nexus in these villages by installing greenhouses, fishponds, chicken incubators, irrigation pumps, and a compost unit for recycling agricultural waste all powered by solar energy.
In the presence of H.E. Marc Baréty, French Ambassador to Egypt, and Lamis Negm, CSR Advisor to the Governor at Central Bank of Egypt, the MOU was signed by Mr. Sebastien Riez, Cluster President of Schneider Electric Northeast Africa & Levant, Mr. Jean-Pierre Trinelle, Chairman of Crédit Agricole Egypt Foundation and Managing Director, Crédit Agricole Egypt & Mr. Mohsen Nawara, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gebal for Agriculture, Sustainability, and Livelihoods, and invitees of sustainability and community development experts, governmental bodies, civil society, and representatives of a number of major companies operating in Egypt.
Under the agreement, the three parties agreed to plan, design and execute sustainable community development projects in Shubra Qubala and Mit El Qasri villages in line with Egypt’s vision to preserve the environment, develop society, and empower women. These projects include greenhouses, fishponds, chicken incubators, and a compost unit for recycling agricultural waste, all powered by solar energy in Mit El Qasri village. Additionally, a women-operated greenhouse will be established, ensuring 50% female representation in these projects.
In Shubra Qubala village, three solar-powered irrigation pumps shall be provided to be used in farming around 700 feddans. This innovative technology will not only reduce the expenses incurred on diesel but also enhance the overall quality of agriculture. These projects are expected to benefit approximately 26,000 local residents and 700 farmers. Moreover, they will significantly contribute to boosting crop productivity, resulting in the cultivation of approximately 1,600 different plant varieties, yielding 40 tons of crops, producing 12,000/year hatched eggs through chicken incubators, and generating an annual fish output of 3,000 fish. This adoption of solar-powered irrigation pumps shall also have a positive impact on the environment, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 68 tons annually and saving up to 70% of water consumption.
Commenting on the MoU, Sebastien Riez, Cluster President of Schneider Electric Northeast Africa & Levant, said: “Sustainability comes at the core of Schneider Electric’s culture and purpose. The cooperation with Crédit Agricole Egypt Foundation for Development to launch development projects in Menoufia Governorate will enable to comprehensively support and effectively develop local communities. These projects shall also help combat climate change and use clean energy sources to make a positive impact and take sustainable measures to improve individuals’ standard of living, boost energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and achieve sustainable development. We look forward to more successful partnerships in this field, on both government and private sector level to support the country’s efforts within the framework of Egypt’s Vision 2030 and to contribute in creating a positive impact on local communities.”
Jean-Pierre Trinelle, Chairman of Crédit Agricole Egypt Foundation for Development and Managing Director, Crédit Agricole Egypt said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Schneider Electric in an alliance that allows us to truly embody our ambition to empower unprivileged areas and contribute to combating climate change. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to leverage the expertise and resources of the two organisations to create sustainable solutions to benefit the largest number of beneficiaries.”
Trinelle added that by focusing on sustainability and leveraging this partnership with Schneider, the bank is actively pursuing its pledge to social and environmental progress while driving positive change within the communities it serves.
Mr. Jean-Pierre Trinelle and Mr. Sebastien Riez cordially invite the private sector and NGOs to join and contribute to the upcoming community development projects, with the aim of scaling them up to encompass numerous underprivileged areas.
Boursa Kuwait joined the fight to beat plastic pollution on World Environment Day 2023, reiterating its commitment to being a responsible and sustainable company that enters into strategic partnerships to support environment protecting initiatives and projects. The Kuwaiti stock exchange partnered with the United Nations Development Programme, the Regional Office for West Asia for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF), and Omniya Collection System to remind the global society of the importance of people’s actions to curb plastic pollution. This year’s World Environment Day also celebrates the steps governments and businesses are taking to tackle plastic pollution and transition to a circular economy.
The celebration of World Environment Day comes in line with Boursa Kuwait’s Corporate Sustainability (CS) strategy, which aims at creating long-term economic, social and environmental value for the company’s stakeholders. A fundamental component of its overarching business strategy, the CS strategy informs and inspires Boursa Kuwait’s efforts to contribute to the sustainable development of the community in which it operates and is in line with Goal 13 – Climate Action – and Goal 17 – Partnership for the Goals – of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mr. Naser M. Al-Sanousi, Senior Director of Marketing and Communication at Boursa Kuwait, commented on this occasion, saying: “As we commemorate World Environment Day, Boursa Kuwait proudly joins hands with our esteemed partners who share our vision for a sustainable future. Today, we come together to relay a message that symbolizes our collective commitment to protecting the environment through the adoption and promotion of sustainable living and business practices.”
“Our Corporate Sustainability strategy guides our approach to sustainability, and we are steadfast in our resolve to strive to create lasting change in our community and build a greener, healthier planet for generations to come. We pledge to help address plastic pollution and its detrimental impact on the environment together with our partners, and we are committed to working toward fostering a circular economy by supporting eco-friendly initiatives, promoting responsible consumption and reducing single-use plastics,” added Mr. Al-Sanousi.
Ms. Hideko Hadzialic, UNDP Resident Representative said: “As we are celebrating World Environment Day 2023, marking its 50th anniversary under the theme #BeatPlasticPollution, let us work together on practical actions to fight the harmful effects of plastic pollution before it’s too late. Plastic pollution has far-reaching impacts on nature, people’s health and wellbeing, the climate as well as agriculture and the economy. Communities worldwide are realizing the serious consequences of plastic pollution and recognizing the urgent need for everyone to come together and take action.”
Boursa Kuwait also took this opportunity to reinforce its partnership with the EVF and the Kuwait Dive Team in association with the UNEP, supporting the Dive Team’s efforts for the preservation of Kuwait’s marine environment and continuing their support of the Dive Team’s initiatives.
Speaking on behalf of UNEP, Mr. Sami Dimassi, UNEP Director and Regional Representative, West Asia Region said, “It is very important to shed light on the partnerships between the private sector and the non-governmental organizations, especially when it comes to the environment and its preservation. We are grateful for our long-standing relationship with Boursa Kuwait and the Kuwait Dive Team, who have set a tremendous precedent for other organizations with their efforts to preserve Kuwait’s marine environment.”
Dr. Dari Al-Huwail, the Kuwait Dive Team’s International Relations Officer, hailed Boursa Kuwait’s support of the Team and the Environmental Voluntary Foundation, saying, “We’re happy, proud and appreciative of the generous support from Boursa Kuwait and the United Nations Environment Programme for our efforts to lift harmful debris from Kuwait’s Bay and the surrounding beaches. Since 2009, we have successfully lifted over 2000 tons of hazardous waste, of which 300 tons were plastic. Additionally, we have found that over half of the waste lifted in the past couple of years has been plastic. Let’s join together on World Environment Day and beat plastic pollution.”
Boursa Kuwait also announced a partnership with Omniya Collection System to recycle plastic and support plastic recycling initiatives. A non-profit Kuwaiti company, Omniya Collection System is on a mission to make the country clean by spreading environmental awareness and separating plastic waste from the source for recycling and preventing it from reaching landfills or the sea.
Boursa Kuwait became the first recipient of Omniya’s “Blue Bottle” certificate, which rewards companies for their efforts to recycle plastic and promote a circular economy. This proactive approach aims to substantially reduce the stock exchange’s environmental impact and contributes to the foundation of a sustainable future for Kuwait.
Speaking on behalf of Omniya Collection System, Chief Executive Officer Ms. Sanaa Al-Ghemlas said, “On World Environment Day, I am humbled to partner with Boursa Kuwait, the first recipient of our “Blue Bottle” certificate. Omniya is a non-profit company fully supported by the private sector, and I look forward to welcoming more companies from that sector to help us give Kuwait a sustainable future.”
Boursa Kuwait’s Corporate Sustainability strategy stipulates ensuring initiatives apply and fall in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), industry best practice standards and investor expectations. With the two pillars of Community, and Environment, the strategy provides the foundation for creating strong and sustainable partnerships that ultimately achieve success and allows Boursa Kuwait to leverage the capabilities and strengths of other organizations specializing in different fields and integrate sustainability efforts with the company culture.
As part of the ‘Environment’ pillar of the CS strategy, Boursa Kuwait has launched several green initiatives. In association with UNEP’s Regional Office for West Asia, EVF, and the Kuwait Dive Team, Boursa Kuwait has sponsored a national campaign to remove hazardous waste from Kuwait Bay. The company also began a major initiative to renovate its buildings and facilities, which contributed to saving energy and water, thereby reducing its carbon footprint. It has also partnered with EnviroServe, the first electronics recycling company in Kuwait, to manage the recycling of discarded screens, computers as well as many other electronic devices not in use. Boursa Kuwait has also made a formal commitment to drive corporate sustainability in financial markets by becoming a member of the UN-led Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative.
During 2022, Boursa Kuwait’s sustainability efforts were recognized by a host of prestigious awards including ‘Most Sustainable Practices in ESG’ at the Global Business Outlook Awards, ‘Sustainable Stock Exchange of the Year in the Middle East’ by Pan Finance, and ‘Most Sustainable Company in the Financial Services Industry’ by World Finance. The company was also recently recognized by CFI Magazine for its “Outstanding Contribution to Financial Inclusion 2022” and “Best Capital Market ESG Strategy GCC 2022”.
The Energy Industries Council (EIC), one of the world’s leading energy trade associations, has unveiled its Europe OPEX Report 2023, showcasing the accelerated growth of Europe’s renewable energy sector.
With a keen focus on onshore wind and solar power, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the region’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
EIC Senior OPEX Analyst Thomas Bacon, the report’s author, said, “The rapid expansion of onshore wind and solar power demonstrates Europe’s commitment to decarbonization and marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a sustainable future.”
He added: “Driven by robust policy and legislation, European countries are intensifying their efforts to prioritise renewable energy sources. The Europe OPEX Report 2023 highlights remarkable developments, emphasizing the pivotal role played by onshore wind farms and solar installations in this energy revolution.”
In 2022, Europe witnessed a surge of 5.4GW of onshore wind capacity across 59 wind farms, indicating a clear shift towards sustainable energy generation, according to the report.
Sweden emerged as the frontrunner, commissioning an impressive 1.7GW of capacity through the establishment of 11 cutting-edge wind farms, equipped with a total of 384 state-of-the-art turbines, the report shows. These milestones solidify Sweden’s position as a leader in renewable energy adoption.
Solar Growth
Solar power, another cornerstone of Europe’s renewable energy landscape, some growth with the continent adding 4.1GW of commercial-scale solar capacity across numerous solar farms in 2022, according to the report.
Spain, with its unwavering commitment to solar energy, led the way by contributing more than half of this capacity, installing 3.1GW across 22 innovative solar farms, the report said.
Looking ahead, the Europe OPEX Report 2023 forecasts a continued upward trajectory for the renewable energy sector, with projections indicating the commissioning of 219 new solar farms in 2023 alone. This surge in installations is estimated to contribute an impressive 26GW of combined capacity.
The report also sheds light on the hydroelectric industry, which comprises 44% of the European renewable energy mix. In 2022, five new hydroelectric facilities were commissioned, adding a substantial 2.5GW of capacity to the continent’s renewable energy portfolio.
On nuclear, several European countries are taking steps towards the phase-out of their operational nuclear facilities. On April 16th, 2023, Germany shut down its remaining three nuclear power plants.
The Europe OPEX Report 2023 provides critical insights into future growth opportunities, policy developments, and market trends across the 27 member states of the EU, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey.
Click here to read the report.
Ducab, one of the UAE’s largest end to end energy solution providers and manufacturing businesses has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Baker Hughes, an energy technology company, which will help accelerate the development and manufacturing of power cables for Electrical Submersible Pumps, acting as a dynamic solution for oil and gas customers, including ADNOC. The MOU holds the possibility of a future agreement between Ducab and Baker Hughes specifically regarding Ducab’s potential role in manufacturing pumps for Baker Hughes in the UAE.
Mohamed Al Ahmedi, CEO of Ducab Metals Business said: “The agreement we have signed with Baker Hughes not only expands our network of partners but supports the development of cutting-edge products here in the UAE, in line with our ongoing commitment and support for the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative.”
“For Ducab, it will act as a platform to accelerate the development and manufacturing of power cables for Electrical Submersible Pumps, acting as a dynamic solution for oil and gas customers. More widely, the agreement will help contribute to our national progress and further leverage the UAE’s competitive advantages,” he added.
He concluded: “It reflects the attractiveness of the UAE’s industrial sector and the strength of local manufacturing.”
For his part, Charles Mellagui, CEO for the Cable Business Unit at Ducab Group, said: “We are constantly developing our products to keep pace with the growing needs of our customers and offer them an added value. We are confident that the new cables for the Electrical Submersible Pumps will serve to enhance operations for ADNOC, Borouge, and other leading oil and gas companies in the region.”
Zac Crouch, vice president of Baker Hughes Oil Field Services and Equipment MENATI region, said: “This agreement with Ducab marks an important milestone in our efforts to advance the oil and gas industry. By accelerating the development and manufacturing of power cables for electric submersible pumps in the UAE, we are taking significant steps toward providing more efficient and dynamic solutions for traditional energy companies. This MOU sets the stage for fruitful discussions that may lead to a future contractual commitment while driving innovation in the industry.”
Make it in the Emirates is organised by The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and ADNOC. The Forum brings together the largest industrial companies and enablers from across the UAE to share their procurement plans, significant investment opportunities and how these translate into local manufacturing investment opportunities. These companies, including Ducab, prioritize local products Made in the UAE and are looking to engage with top-ranked local and international businesses, like Baker Hughes, keen to invest in UAE-based manufacturing and production.
The MOU signed today between Ducab and Baker Hughes, directly aligns with the
The Make it in the Emirates Forum, and directly supports the UAE’s economic diversification strategy and the country’s efforts to enhance the competitiveness of national industries.
