UAE and Germany to explore collaboration on clean energy

A delegation from the UAE's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure will visit Germany on June 28 to discuss joint opportunities, particularly in hydrogen

Last year, the UAE announced its ambitions to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent by 2050 and increase clean energy use by 50 per cent. Stephen Lock / The National

A senior level UAE delegation will visit Germany on June 28 to explore ways the two countries can co-operate in the area of clean energy, as the Gulf nation pushes ahead with its target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The delegation, headed by Sharif Al Olama, undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, will include ministry officials and executives from Adnoc and Masdar to discuss energy opportunities, particularly in renewables and hydrogen, a ministry statement on Sunday said.

Several "promising partnerships" in the energy sector are expected to be signed during the visit, it said.

"The visit aims to establish sustainable co-operation mechanisms between the two countries, with the aim of maximising the benefit of the joint co-operation agreements signed by the two countries during the previous year," Mr Al Olama said.

"The visit will include introducing the benefits and services offered by the agreements to international companies in the energy sector in the two countries and the opportunities to build new and sustainable partnerships and ways to make optimal use of them."

The two countries signed the UAE-German Energy Partnership in 2017 to enhance dialogue and provide a framework for co-operation in energy transition.

They have also launched a bilateral Hydrogen Taskforce, to engage ministries, companies and scientists in a systematic process to boost the hydrogen economy. The countries aim to co-operate on upstream (joint production of green fuels), midstream (transport) and downstream (technology for industrial use) projects.

There are also two German-Emirati projects to produce green hydrogen already underway in the UAE, including one in Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE delegation to Germany will meet senior government officials and representatives of the private sector to discuss ways to enhance joint co-operation in the energy and hydrogen sector, the ministry undersecretary said.

Germany is a strategic partner for the UAE in the field of energy, especially clean energy, Mr Al Olama said.

The relationship between the two countries has recorded "great progress" over the past few years, he added.

The UAE is stepping up efforts to hit its target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 through a wide-ranging green strategy focused on a shift to renewable energy and the use of new technologies, which will help slash carbon emission levels.

The country will also host the Cop28 summit in 2023.

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  President Sheikh Mohamed, who was Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces at the time, at the launch of the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative at Expo 2020 Dubai. With him are Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, right, Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister for Climate Change and Environment, left, and Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, chairman of Masdar and chief executive of Adnoc, second left. All photos: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

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  A display about the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative in the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

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  President Sheikh Mohamed, centre, in the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. With him are Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, right, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, second right, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, fourth right, and Abdullah Al Marri, Minister of Economy, left.

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  President Sheikh Mohamed, right, with Dr Sultan Al Jaber and Abdullah Al Marri, left.

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  President Sheikh Mohamed, centre, at Expo 2020 Dubai with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, right, and Dr Sultan Al Jaber.

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  President Sheikh Mohamed, front row, third right, with: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, second right; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, fourth right; Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, right; Mohamed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, fifth right; and Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister for Climate Change and Environment, left. Back row, from right to left: Abdullah Al Marri, Minister of Economy; Suhail bin Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; and Reem Al Hashimi, Minister of State for International Co-operation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai.

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  President Sheikh Mohamed with Mariam Al Mheiri and Suhail bin Mohamed Al Mazrouei.