Jean-Bernard Levy, chairman and chief executive of EDF Group, at the opening of a 200MW plant for the third phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National
Jean-Bernard Levy, chairman and chief executive of EDF Group, at the opening of a 200MW plant for the third phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National
Jean-Bernard Levy, chairman and chief executive of EDF Group, at the opening of a 200MW plant for the third phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National
Jean-Bernard Levy, chairman and chief executive of EDF Group, at the opening of a 200MW plant for the third phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. Satish Kumar / The National

EDF to invest up to €600m in energy storage-focused research


Jennifer Gnana
  • English
  • Arabic

French utility company EDF will look to invest up to €600 million (Dh2.65 billion) in research and development focused on energy storage as it looks to invest around $10bn in the sector by 2035, its chairman and chief executive said.

“We’re investing altogether around €600m every year and more and more significant part of that is in storage whether it is for batteries  or for energy management systems, utility scale solutions and so on. It’s part of the research and development project," Jean-Bernard Levy said on the sidelines of the opening of a 200 megawatt solar photovoltaic plant that forms part of the third phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park, which EDF is building in consortium with Abu Dhabi’s Masdar.

Energy storage refers to the capture of energy generated through solar, wind and other sources for use at a later time through batteries and devices to ensure reliability of power grid supply. State-backed EDF, which has interests in nuclear, renewables, gas as well as coal plans to develop or acquire more than 10 gigawatts of energy storage capacity by 2035.

“Storage will become a mandatory part of the energy systems, so that you can really regulate the power and bring power to everybody even when there is little wind and even when there is little sun and we will look at storage in an opportunistic way and we intend to deploy our storage capacity globally," said Mr Levy.

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Read more:

Saudi Arabia's first wind project receives four bids

More renewable projects in the pipeline for GCC countries in 2018

Saudi Arabia shortlists bidders for first solar power project

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EDF, whose portfolio includes around 4.6 per cent hydroelectricity worldwide, will look to develop storage capacity with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the emirate’s utilities developer, in its upcoming hydro project in the enclave of Hatta.

The 250MW hydroelectric power project - the first in the GCC - will involve pumping water  to the top of a hill in the morning and releasing the stored water to generate electricity through turbines at night, complementing the existing power generation grid, said Mr Levy.

The company is also looking to jointly develop opportunities abroad with Masdar.

“There are at least six or seven other countries in the world where we are seeking jointly some new business between Masdar and EDF,” Mr Levy said.

EDF is looking to grow its renewables business from 28GW at present to 50GW by 2030, with increasing emphisis on wind, solar storage and district heating, he added.

Mr Levy, who met with the Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on his visit to Paris last month, declined to comment whether talks on developing the kingdom’s nuclear reactors formed part of the agenda.

The group will look to engage in wind projects in Egypt and was also eyeing opportunities in Oman, he added.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

HIV on the rise in the region

A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.

New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.

Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.

Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.  

Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.

RESULTS

6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $49,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

7.05pm Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner El Patriota, Vagner Leal, Antonio Cintra

7.40pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,000m

Winner Ya Hayati, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner Althiqa, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Soft Whisper, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

9.25pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner Bedouin’s Story, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Schedule:

Friday, January 12: Six fourball matches
Saturday, January 13: Six foursome (alternate shot) matches
Sunday, January 14: 12 singles

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

50-man Royal Rumble

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho

John Cena v Triple H

Matches to be announced

WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS

England

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus

Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5