UK Capability in Renewable Energy
An abundance of sunshine and space gives countries in the Middle East a great advantage when it comes to generating renewable energy. As countries work to increase the percentage of energy generated from renewables, energy transition is paramount.
The UK is renowned as a global leader in renewable energy. UK firms are working with governments and businesses across the region to address the challenges brought about by climate change to find solutions in the charge to net zero.
Find out more about how UK renewable energy innovation is helping GCC businesses meet their goals.
Unleashing the power of graphene
Graphene@Manchester is the centre of graphene's science and engineering community at The University of Manchester. This hub comprises two flagship facilities: the National Graphene Institute (NGI) for researchers and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) for businesses.
As a rising global innovation powerhouse, the United Arab Emirates is joining the global graphene ecosystem through a partnership with Masdar, the Research and Innovation Centre for Graphene and 2D Materials (RIC2D) at Khalifa University and Graphene@Manchester. The partnership is focused on the research and commercialisation of graphene and other 2D materials and is utilising the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre as an innovation catalyst. Together, they are rapidly scaling applications in various areas, including water filtration and renewable energy storage, to support the drive towards net zero.
Extracting value from waste
Since 2012, Kiverco has developed significant partnerships and exported world-class flagship recycling plants to the GCC. When governments and businesses undertake a project for the first time, they want a safe pair of hands and predictable performance. As a result, Kiverco has been commissioned to deliver a global flagship recycling solution to one of the most significant giga-projects in the region.
In early 2023, Gabriel O’Keefe, Kiverco’s Export Sales Manager responsible for the region, was appointed 'Export Champion' by the UK Minister for Exports. This marked another significant milestone for Kiverco's dedication to the UAE and KSA. This important accolade is awarded to those celebrated as global standard-setters and serves as an inspiration to others.
Providing consultancy
Atkins, a renowned global engineering, design and project management consultancy, delivers first-of-a-kind hydrogen solutions in the Middle East and globally.
With its breadth and depth of experience developing hydrogen and power projects, Atkins offers a comprehensive range of services to deliver safe, reliable and profitable hydrogen projects. From feasibility studies to engineering design, construction and operation, and from pilot plants to multi-gigawatt scale developments, Atkins provides end-to-end solutions tailored to meet the unique requirements of the Middle East region.
Atkins' analytical tools are employed to design and improve the hydrogen production process. This involves determining the appropriate sizes and combinations of power sources, energy storage, hydrogen storage and connections to the electricity grid and water supply. Atkins has also delivered projects for the end use of hydrogen, such as the Middle East’s first hydrogen refuelling service stations.
Harnessing the power of the sun
Desalination of sea and brackish water is a significant source of water supply in the Middle East but it can be unsustainable and expensive. Desolenator aims to transform this industry by utilising the abundant resources of the sea and sun to produce high-quality water, helping to address the water-food-energy nexus.
In 2022, Desolenator deployed its flagship plant for the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) in Dubai. The company is scaling up its efforts with a second project in the region: deploying the world's first solar desalination plant for food production in the UAE in partnership with Silal and ADQ. This project represents the next step towards achieving genuinely sustainable agriculture and will be showcased at COP28, where visitors can taste sustainably grown strawberries and tomatoes.
Desolenator's scaled-up modular units can each produce up to 40,000 litres per hour at a levelised cost of water of less than $1 USD per 1000 litres. The technology harvests four times more solar energy than traditional PV systems and operates with zero harmful chemicals, zero membranes and zero energy intermittency whilst producing zero toxic brine.
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