The UAE will soon see the development of the world’s first integrated hybrid landfill gas-solar-agro project in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, announced a senior official during the ongoing Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (Wetex 2018), being held, in Dubai, UAE.

The three-day event will conclude later today (October 25).

The announcement was made by Engineer Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Al Hammadi, director general of the Public Works and Services Department, Government of Ras Al Khaimah, at the Renewable Energy Conference, held as part of the Wetex.

This is the world’s first integrated hybrid landfill gas (LFG)-solar project that will also include an agro-product development component to make it a completely green and sustainable industry – in line with the UAE Government’s vision to promote green and sustainable economy, said a statement.

With an investment outlay of Dh367 million ($100 million), the project will generate up to 16 megawatt (MW) power to be supplied to the customers in Ras Al Khaimah, it said.

An agreement to this effect was signed between Public Works and Services Department and Utico, for developing and operating a 16 MW LFG-Solar project. The project is in line with the new UAE energy strategy that aims to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50 per cent, thus saving Dh700 billion ($190.58 billion) by 2050.

The agreement was signed by Engineer Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Al Hammadi, director general of Public Works and Services Department, Government of Ras Al Khaimah and Richard Menezes, vice-chairman and managing director of Utico, in the presence of Sonira Nasser, director of Ras Al Khaimah Waste Management Authority (Rakwma).

Engineer Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Al Hammadi, director-general of Public Works and Services Department, said that this project is in line with the directives of the UAE government, as well as RAK Ruler’ directives to provide the best services to citizens and residents, as well as ensure sustainable development.

UAE Energy Plan for 2050 is targeting an energy mix that combines renewable, nuclear and clean energy sources to meet the UAE’s economic requirements and environmental goals.

The UAE aims to invest Dh600 billion ($163.35 billion) by 2050 to meet the growing energy demand and ensure sustainable growth of the country’s economy.

Sonia Nasser, director of Rakwma, said that the project was envisioned over a few years and this signing ceremony is the outcome of a long drawn tendering and selection process.

She said that the agency is dedicated to providing the best services to all in RAK and leading the way for sustainable development.

Utico, a private sector utility supplier which is also a developer plant supplier for water desalination equipment as well as EPC contractor and operator for water and power facilities, will develop the project and operate the project.

Power offtake will be utilised by Utico’s transmission and distribution arm.  

Richard Menezes, vice-chairman and managing director of Utico, said: “The benefits of this project will be passed onto consumers and will be in line with the programme to assist investment and investors in the UAE.”

“Electricity produced will be used to power the desalination plant making it the world’s least carbon footprint desalination plant as well as its benefits will be passed onto our residential consumers as per part of our SolarFree programme at lower than the current peak consumer rates,” he said.

Utico is the largest private full services utility in the UAE and has invested over $540 million (Dh2 billion in the UAE with over $600 million (Dh2.2 billion) projects under construction and development.

Utico is the first GCC company to be awarded Desalination Company of the year Award as well as the first in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region to be certified ISO50001 for energy management. It recently received investment from PIF, PPA, Government of Bahrain, Brunei and Islamic Development Bank through fully-owned Asma Capital as part of the $147 million deal.

The Gulf countries are expected to invest $252 billion over the next five years on projects for setting up new power production plants, distribution systems, and supply grids.

GCC represents 47 per cent or 148 GW of the current Mena power-generating capacity, according to reports by Ventures Onsite, a UAE-based project tracker.

The region would require $85 billion for the addition of 69GW of generating capacity and another $52 billion for transmission and distribution over the next five years. The GCC power capacity needs to expand at an average annual pace of 8 per cent between 2016 and 2020, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service