By Claudio Facchin, Chief Executive Officer, Hitachi Energy
As we advance towards a sustainable energy future for all, it's clear that we need electricity grids that help us get there faster, not slow us down. The International Energy Agency (IEA) emphasises this in its 130-page report, highlighting the critical need for grid investment.
Currently, grid investments are insufficient. To achieve national climate goals, investments must nearly double by 2030, reaching over $600 billion annually. This increase is vital for digitalising and upgrading power grids. Neglecting these investments risks increasing global CO2 emissions, thereby hindering energy transitions, and making the 1.5°C climate goal unattainable. The IEA predicts that without proper grid investment, cumulative CO2 emissions from the power sector could be 58 gigatonnes higher by 2050 compared to a scenario aligned with climate targets. This could also increase the likelihood of a global temperature rise exceeding 2°C by 40 per cent.
The emerging global energy system is more diverse and complex than ever. By 2030, renewables like wind and solar are expected to generate half of our electricity (up from 28 per cent today), potentially reaching 80 per cent by 2050. However, renewable energy output is variable, influenced by factors like wind speed and sunlight. Additionally, electricity demand is set to surge with the increase of electric vehicles (EVs), widespread installation of heat pumps, and growing use of air conditioners due to rising global temperatures. By 2050, electricity could account for half of all energy used globally, a significant increase from the current 20 per cent.
If we fail to upgrade the grid to meet this growing demand and the need for real-time flexibility to manage renewable energy variability, we'll face significant challenges. Historically, utilities have managed demand spikes by activating fossil fuel plants, but this is no longer a sustainable solution.
By 2030, our power grids will need to be twice as flexible as they are today. By 2050, we'll require four times the installed generation capacity and transfer three times the electrical energy. The future grid will need: 1) increased transmission capacity and interconnections, combined with energy storage for improved flexibility; 2) advanced digitalisation technology focused on sustainability and power electronics; and 3) a global, system-wide approach to energy transition, promoting innovative industry and sector collaboration.
Traditionally, electricity grids have been national or regional, but the future demands more interconnectivity. This is evident in the increasing need for links to transport power over longer distances, from areas of surplus to areas of demand.
In 2023, significant interconnector projects were announced, including Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, supplying power to the UK mainland via Hitachi Energy’s HVDC technology. Such projects are crucial for future electricity supply reliability. In addition, this technology also allows for new applications where it helps to decarbonise other sectors, such as oil and gas. Project Lightning is a first-of-its-kind subsea power transmission project where HVDC links will connect low-carbon power from the mainland grid to Adnoc production operations as a strategic project to enable a sustainable, flexible and secure power supply.
Given the vast scale and complexity of energy systems and the urgency of climate change, collaboration across companies, academia, and governments is essential. This is especially true in “hard-to-electrify” sectors where transitioning to clean energy is challenging, like aviation, cement manufacturing, and steelmaking. Collaborative efforts combining diverse expertise and technologies are key to overcoming these challenges.
Transitioning from a fossil fuel-dominated energy system to one primarily powered by clean electricity is a monumental task. As the pace of this historic energy transition accelerates, ensuring that our electricity grids are flexible and resilient is crucial to enable a sustainable energy future – for today’s generations and those to come.
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The Equaliser 2
Director Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders
Three stars
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Roma 4
Milner (15' OG), Dzeko (52'), Nainggolan (86', 90 4')
Liverpool 2
Mane (9'), Wijnaldum (25')
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
More Expo 2020 Dubai pavilions:
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
