Related Articles

• 
  Schneider launches $27m UAE education initiative

  27 May 2025

  France-headquartered Schneider Electric has launched an AED100m ($27m) initiative focusing on the UAE education sector.

  The five-year education sector initiative will be rolled out in phases to ensure it “evolves in line with the changing needs of students, educators, and the wider industrial ecosystem”.

  According to Schneider Electric, the initiative will focus on advancing sustainability education, modernising engineering laboratories with advanced energy and automation technologies, and creating hands-on learning opportunities through structured mentorship and applied research, facilitated by strategic collaborations with universities and industry partners.

  The launch of the AED100m initiative coincided with the inauguration of Schneider Electric’s new Dubai office.

  Located in Dubai Silicon Oasis and known as The Nest, the smart office spans 10,000 square metres and represents “a key strategic investment” in the future of the UAE’s sustainable economy, Schneider Electric said.

  Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, inaugurated the new office.

  Innovation-driven growth

  Schneider Electric's new office building features technologies for electrification, automation and digitalisation.

  It showcases the firm’s EcoStruxure solutions, software and services that span building operations and management, power monitoring and building data platform, and integrated workplace management.

  The building’s innovation hub will feature live demos of digital twin technology, AVEVA Unified Operations Centre, and smart building and prefabricated artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data centre solutions.

  According to Schneider Electric, The Nest expects an energy consumption reduction of 37% compared to the previous local site and provides a targeted saving of 572 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

  Georges El-Mir, senior vice president, Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric Middle East, told MEED that The Nest showcases "what we can bring to the region",  particularly in terms of reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and industries, including data centres.

  "Our energy management systems offer a lot of complementarity with existing industrial technologies. Our EcoStruxure solutions offer a tested and validated architecture," El-Mir said, adding they see the Middle East and Africa region as a major global growth engine due to the major expansion of cities and buildings and industries, as well as data centre facilities.   

  Photo credit: Wam

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13954568/main.jpg

  Jennifer Aguinaldo
• 
  Nuclear power makes a global comeback

  27 May 2025

  

   

  A shift is taking place in the global energy conversation. Once dismissed as too risky or too slow, nuclear power is back on the table. And this time, it's not just governments paying attention – technology giants, utilities and climate policymakers are all revisiting the atom as a serious contender in the race to net zero and to keep up with exploding electricity demand.

  The nuclear renaissance is real, and like all renaissances, it brings both opportunity and risk.

  By 2030, data centres are expected to consume more than 945 terawatt-hours of electricity – slightly more than the entire electricity consumption of Japan today.

  With the electrification of transport, heating and industry, we are entering an era of permanent peak demand. The world needs more power, and it needs it fast and clean.

  Renewables are surging, but they are not enough on their own. Intermittency and energy storage remain significant hurdles. This is where nuclear energy offers something others can't: a reliable, carbon-free, around-the-clock baseload solution. It's no wonder that more than 50 countries include nuclear in their decarbonisation strategies.

  Widespread momentum

  In recent years, the US has provided incentives for clean energy, including nuclear. Canada and France are investing in extending reactor lifespans and exploring new builds, and Japan is reopening idled plants.

  The UK committed to delivering up to 24GW of nuclear power by 2050, three times its current capacity. China, meanwhile, is building new reactors at a pace unmatched globally, aiming for 150 new reactors by 2035.

  This momentum is mirrored in emerging markets as well. In 2024, the UAE's Barakah nuclear plant reached full capacity, with all four of its reactors online, adding 5.6GW to the grid and supplying up to 25% of the country's electricity needs. Egypt's El-Dabaa nuclear plant, the first of its kind in North Africa, is under construction, while Sub-Saharan Africa is weighing nuclear options to meet growing energy access needs.

  With more and more countries in the region positioning nuclear as part of a diversified, forward-looking energy mix, the Middle East has an opportunity to lead and help shape the global nuclear narrative.

  Opportunities and risks

  Nuclear energy is an attractive proposition for several reasons. On one hand, it offers significant benefits: zero direct emissions, stable supply, high energy density and long operating life.

  It can stabilise grids, reduce dependency on fossil fuels and support industrial decarbonisation. It even enables clean hydrogen production and zero-carbon desalination. Moreover, it is a particularly good option for energy-exporting nations that are aiming to decarbonise domestic use while freeing up more oil and gas for export.

  On the other hand, atomic power comes with challenges and risks that cannot be ignored. For example, the economics are daunting: large nuclear plants come with hefty price tags and long development cycles.

  The average construction time for large-scale plants still exceeds a decade, and budgets frequently spiral out of control. Hinkley Point C in the UK, for instance, has faced several delays and is now projected to cost over £30bn ($40.6bn).

  In addition, while the risks are statistically rare, the safety concerns still carry political and emotional weight. Then, there's the lingering question of radioactive waste management and the geopolitical sensitivity of nuclear materials.

  These are not only technical limitations; they are also societal ones. Public acceptance, regulatory uncertainty and geopolitical tensions are as much a part of the nuclear equation as megawatts and megabucks.

  This is where innovation plays a vital role. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are redefining the nuclear landscape.

  These compact, factory-built systems promise faster deployment, lower capital costs and more flexibility. A single SMR can power a city, support a mining operation or anchor a green hydrogen hub – often with minimal land use and enhanced safety features.

  Governments and private investors are taking note. The US and Canada have fast-tracked SMR development. Poland and the Czech Republic are exploring SMRs to transition away from coal. In Finland, start-ups are developing reactors for district heating; and in the UK, a fleet of SMRs is planned to bolster energy security.

  Earlier this year, Siemens Energy joined forces with Rolls-Royce SMR to lead the exclusive supply of power generation technology for SMRs and help bring these next-generation reactors to market.

  With decades of experience focusing on the power island of nuclear power plants – providing steam turbines, generators and operational instrumentation and control systems – Siemens Energy believes nuclear energy will play an important role in the decarbonisation of the future energy mix and strives to support innovative technologies in the sector.

  While this is one example, it reflects a broader shift: recognising that nuclear power's future can be more modular, scalable and integrable into a wider clean-energy system.

  Scaling SMRs from promise to reality is no easy feat, however. Regulatory frameworks remain fragmented, financing models are untested, and public acceptance, even for smaller reactors, is not guaranteed.

  While SMRs are smaller, they are still nuclear: the concerns around waste, security and expertise remain, just at a different scale.

  The bottom line is that the promise of new nuclear requires bold leadership and rigorous oversight. We must proceed with ambition and caution, encouraging transparent international cooperation on nuclear safety and non-proliferation.

  This means fast-tracking regulatory pathways without compromising on oversight, and investing in the talent and infrastructure needed to make more nuclear energy use not just possible, but viable, affordable and safe.

  We also need to be clear-eyed about the role of nuclear in the broader energy mix. As we stand at this inflection point, we should remember that nuclear is neither saviour nor scapegoat.

  It cannot compete with solar or wind on cost or speed of deployment, but it offers reliable, clean power when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow. As grids become more complex and demand more relentlessly, that value will only grow.

  Our task is to harness the opportunities of the nuclear renaissance, while managing the risks with responsibility and wisdom, because the decisions we make about nuclear energy today will not just power our data centres, they will shape the energy landscape for generations to come.

  The energy transition is not a sprint or a marathon; it's a relay race. Every technology has a leg to run, and nuclear energy's leg may be more critical than ever before.

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13955266/main.jpg

  MEED Editorial
• 
  Sobha embraces modular construction model

  27 May 2025

  

   

  In the UAE’s competitive market, developers are under pressure to deliver faster, better and more sustainably. Sobha Modular, the off-site construction arm of Sobha Realty, relies on modular construction solutions to address these demands.

  “Dubai’s real estate market remains dynamic and agile, evolving rapidly to meet shifting investor and end-user priorities,” says Francis Alfred, managing director of Sobha Realty.

  “There’s a surge in demand for high-quality developments that offer faster delivery timelines and greater sustainability. Buyers are not just looking for prime locations or aesthetics anymore. They want energy efficiency, operational savings and reduced environmental impact – and modular construction plays a pivotal role in meeting those expectations.”

  Strategic fit

  Modular construction is a cornerstone of Sobha’s "backward integration model", which gives the developer control over the entire value chain, from design and engineering to manufacturing and installation, says Alfred.

  “By enabling precision engineering and off-site production, modular construction allows us to accelerate delivery without compromising quality,” he explains.

  “In Dubai and the broader UAE, where speed and quality are paramount, modular construction enhances project efficiency while minimising disruption at urban sites.”

  Sustainability is another advantage. Modular techniques allow for resource usage to be centralised, making it easier to integrate eco-efficient systems from the design phase.

  Modular solutions also reduce material waste and lower carbon impact, which enables Sobha Modular to “maintain consistency in execution across large-scale developments”, Alfred notes.

  Engineering luxury

  While some associate modular construction with utilitarian design, Alfred says it is also suited to high-end projects.

  “In the luxury segment, consistency, precision and attention to detail are critical. Our in-house modular capabilities allow us to uphold these standards at every stage.” 

  The executive lists four core benefits that make modular construction particularly valuable when it comes to Sobha’s premium offerings: quality, accelerated timelines, sustainability and customer satisfaction.

  “Every component produced in our Ras Al-Khaimah factory undergoes stringent quality checks. We meet or exceed UAE and international benchmarks,” he says. 

  “Off-site fabrication runs in parallel to on-site work. This means shorter build times and early handovers.

  “Less on-site waste, smarter material use and a smaller carbon footprint – that’s what modular brings to the table,” he continues. “Fewer defects, better finishes and higher consistency translate into happier homeowners.”

  Modular lifecycle

  Sobha’s modular systems include units such as bathroom pods and facades, which are manufactured at the company’s factory in the northern UAE emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah. The process blends innovation, training and quality control, according to Alfred.

  He outlines the lifecycle of a modular pod, which starts with design and specification processes developed collaboratively by Sobha’s in-house teams. Once the blueprint is approved, a reference pod is created.

  “We use virtual reality testing to simulate real-world use and validate the design,” he says.

  A series of inspections follows. “We don’t proceed until the pod meets our functional, operational and aesthetic standards,” Alfred explains.

  Once approved, mass production begins under the oversight of trained technicians and project coordinators using digital tracking tools. This is followed by installation.

  “We manage scheduling with dedicated coordination teams to ensure pods arrive ready for site execution. By the time our construction teams are on the ground, everything is set for seamless integration.”

  Tangible gains

  The modular model delivers a measurable impact on the ground, says Alfred. “It has been transformative in enhancing both speed and quality across our projects.”

  By running production and site work concurrently, Sobha has been able to shorten timelines and deliver homes ahead of schedule.

  “Client satisfaction has risen,” he says, adding: "Our internal snagging phases now see significantly fewer defects.”

  He also points to benefits such as improved coordination, optimised manpower deployment and reduced emissions from construction activity.

  “Our data shows we’re seeing overall project efficiency improvements, and we anticipate that future developments using modular [construction techniques] will achieve more than 40% gains in key performance metrics.”

  Future plans

  Sobha plans to extend its modular construction offering into new markets. “We are expanding beyond Dubai and Umm Al-Quwain, with Abu Dhabi identified as a strategic growth market,” Alfred says. “We’re also looking internationally.”

  Markets such as the US and Australia are next, he says, as there is rising demand for sustainable, high-quality, factory-built developments in these countries.

  “The modular model we've successfully implemented in the UAE and India allows us to scale rapidly while maintaining control and craftsmanship.” 

  In this global push, Sobha aims to control the entire value chain in order to maintain consistency across all of its markets. “Our backward integration strategy … is a scalable, exportable model that guarantees the Sobha standard no matter where we build,” Alfred says. 

  As Sobha Modular strives to meet the evolving needs of both investors and end-users, the company believes that modular construction is not just a trend, but is the future of premium real estate. 

  “Our goal is to redefine what’s possible in construction,” Alfred concludes.

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  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Fertiglobe expects Rabdan final investment decision in 2026

  26 May 2025

  

  UAE-based fertiliser producer Fertiglobe expects to reach a final investment decision (FID) on its project to establish a new low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Abu Dhabi in early 2026.

  The planned Rabdan complex will use natural gas provided by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Fertiglobe’s parent company and majority shareholder, to produce up to 1 million tonnes a year (t/y) of low-carbon liquid ammonia, also known as blue ammonia.

  The Rabdan facility, which will be built in Ruwais, will also have the capacity to produce 192,000 t/y of blue hydrogen and 892,000 t/y of nitrogen, to supply to a local offtaker.

  Fertiglobe’s CEO, Ahmed El-Hoshy, said that the front-end engineering and design to engineering, procurement and construction (feed-to-EPC) competition process started later than expected, but that "this process has caught up", allowing for an FID decision in early 2026.

  “The ultimate FID decision on Rabdan is dependent on having a competitive capex (capital expenditure) and [operational expenditure] profile and spoken-for offtake agreements. We are also monitoring regulatory developments,” he told MEED.

  MEED reported in March that Adnoc was initiating a feed-to-EPC competition to deliver the Rabdan project. The model involves the project operator selecting contractors to execute the feed work and then choosing the contractor with the most competitive feed proposal to execute EPC works on the project, while also compensating the other contestants for their work.

  The following contractors are understood to have submitted bids with Adnoc for the feed-to-EPC contest for the Rabdan project by the deadline of 8 March:

  • GS Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
  • Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
  • Larsen & Toubro Energy Hydrocarbon (India)
  • Linde (Germany)
  • McDermott (US)
  • Saipem (Italy)
  • Samsung E&A (South Korea)
  • Technip Energies (France)
  • Tecnimont (Italy)

  MEED has learnt from industry sources that Larsen & Toubro Energy Hydrocarbon, Linde and Technip Energies are in contention to be shortlisted by Adnoc to participate in the feed-to-EPC competition for the project.

  “We haven’t provided a timeline on shortlisting contractors. Our selection will depend on contractors with the best estimates and experience in building similar projects, keeping in mind our attention to efficiency, technology and sustainability,” El-Hoshy said.

  “Progress has been made on the offtake side,” he noted. Alongside the firm's Asian partners, the company has applied to the Japanese Contracts for Difference programme, which is currently under evaluation by the Japanese Economy, Trade & Industry Ministry.

  He added that this was “similar to other projects globally also evaluating other support programmes”.

  El-Hoshy further said: “Although we benefit from advantaged infrastructure with the Adnoc ecosystem, strong and improving cost structure and strategic locations, we want to further de-risk our growth projects by ensuring offtake agreements.”

  Project Rabdan

  The planned Rabdan facility is part of an expansion phase of the Taziz Industrial Chemicals Zone in Ruwais Industrial City.

  In addition to the main blue ammonia production plant, the planned complex will also feature units for hydrogen production and synthesis gas purification, as well as pipelines for the transport of feedstock gas, hydrogen and nitrogen.

  The Rabdan facility will have its own storage, export, utilities and offsite units, and will also tap into those from the wider Taziz ecosystem.

  A carbon capture and storage (CCS) system within the Rabdan complex will capture, compress and transport carbon dioxide emissions from its operations to a larger Adnoc CCS hub in Ruwais.

  Blue hydrogen and ammonia goals

  Abu Dhabi is set to become a major producer of blue hydrogen and blue ammonia when the first phase of the complex in the Taziz Industrial Chemicals Zone, which is currently under construction, enters operations in 2027.

  The complex, known as Project Harvest, will be located within the first phase of the Taziz Industrial Chemicals Zone, which is being developed by Abu Dhabi Chemicals Derivatives Company RSC (Taziz) – in which Adnoc and industrial holding company ADQ are 60:40 shareholders.

  A joint venture of Fertiglobe, South Korea’s GS Energy Corporation and Japanese investment firm Mitsui & Company is the main stakeholder in Project Harvest, which will have an output capacity of 1 million t/y.

  The joint venture awarded Tecnimont the main contract, worth $500m, for EPC works on the blue ammonia production project in May 2024. El-Hoshy said Fertiglobe and its partners expect to start operations at the Project Harvest complex in 2027.

  “Project Harvest benefits from one of the most competitive capex structures globally, especially as we look at the other geographies that have structurally higher costs, including non-feedstock related costs. Our benefit stems from the Adnoc ecosystem leveraging common utility, site and logistical infrastructure in Taziz,” El-Hoshy told MEED.

  Project Rabdan is understood to be the expansion phase of the Taziz blue hydrogen and ammonia complex. Upon commissioning, which is most likely to take place before the end of this decade, Fertiglobe – as the main nitrogen-based ammonia business of Adnoc Group – will become the operator of the Rabdan facility.

  The two projects in Abu Dhabi could add 2 million t/y of output potential, more than doubling Fertiglobe’s current commercial ammonia capacity of 1.6 million t/y and increasing its total sellable capacity to 8.6 million t/y of net ammonia and urea combined, in addition to other announced global projects.

  Fertiglobe financial performance

  Adnoc became the majority shareholder in Fertiglobe after completing a transaction in October wherein it increased its shareholding in the company from 36.2% to 86.2%. The remaining 13.8% of Fertiglobe’s shares trade on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, following the company’s stock listing in October 2022.

  In the first quarter of this year, Fertiglobe announced revenues of $695m, representing a year-on-year growth of 26%. The company recorded adjusted profit attributable to shareholders of $73m, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of $261m.

  Fertiglobe attributed its positive first-quarter financial results to higher sales volumes, supported by operational improvements and strategic shipment deferrals from the last quarter of 2024, and higher urea prices.

  Adjusted for turnarounds, asset utilisation and energy efficiency reached record highs across most plants in Q1 2025, driven by the ongoing phase one of the manufacturing improvement plan, which is now 80% complete.

  As part of its 2030 growth strategy, Fertiglobe aims to become a $1bn-plus Ebitda “global integrated downstream product champion, well placed for the energy transition”. This encompasses four goals: achieving operational excellence of $165m-$175m, customer proximity of $30m-$45m, nitrogen product expansion of $75m-$100m and disciplined low-carbon ammonia growth of $70m-$100m.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13948557/main5604.jpg

  Indrajit Sen
• 
  Trojena sets July deadline for Relax cluster bids

  26 May 2025

  

   

  Trojena has set a deadline of 27 July for firms to submit proposals for several packages of the Relax cluster, one of the six planned zones at the Saudi mountain development.

  MEED understands that the notice was issued in mid-April for the packages, which include the main works for the five-star Chedi Trojena hotel, the Urban Ropeway station building and the civil infrastructure and chalet building works.

  The scope of work for the civil infrastructure and chalet building includes the development of roads, bridges and culverts; wet and dry utilities, including substations, pump stations, switching stations and chiller yards; earthworks for the chalets; and other associated infrastructure.

  The Chedi Trojena project is the first hotel under development at Trojena. 

  In December 2023, MEED exclusively reported that the early works for the hotel had started and were being carried out by local contractor Kabbani Construction Group.

  The hotel will have 125 keys and is part of the Slope Residences at the Relax cluster. Once completed, the hotel will have views over the Trojena lake.

  Canadian engineering firm WSP is the project consultant and US-based Bechtel is the project management consultant.

  Trojena development

  Trojena will host the Asian Winter Games in 2029 and the construction works have been planned to meet that deadline.

  The masterplan consists of six zones, or clusters, for which Trojena has already awarded some of the major contracts. Construction works have started on several schemes, most notably the excavation works for the Vault, tunnelling works, the ski village and the construction of the dams in the Lake district.

  Launched by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al-Saud, Trojena is set to be a year-round tourist destination. It will include a ski village; family and wellness resorts; retail, food and beverage facilities; and sports amenities such as watersports and mountain biking. An interactive nature reserve is also planned.

  The project is due to be completed by 2026.

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13947997/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal