The UAE updated its energy strategy, aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The country is increasing its focus on clean and renewable energy projects, specifically solar power, as a core strategy to address climate change. It targets a clean energy capacity of 14.2 GW by 2030 and plans to invest between AED150 billion (~$40.84 billion) and AED200 billion (~$54.45 billion) to triple renewable energy contributions by that year.

ACWA Power unveiled seven partnership agreements during its flagship event, Innovation Days 2025, held in Riyadh. The agreements aim to promote renewables, water desalination, battery storage, and green hydrogen advancements to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for energy transition and economic diversification. Key partnerships include two agreements with Saudi Aramco to enhance solar energy forecasting and test vanadium flow battery technology for long-duration energy storage.

The MESIA Solar Outlook Report 2024 highlights MENA’s growing focus on solar energy amid industrialization and climate concerns. The region has an average annual solar irradiance exceeding 2,000 kWh per sq m. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt are investing heavily in solar photovoltaic technologies. The report covers advancements in energy storage, solar panel testing, carbon capture, and building-integrated photovoltaics. It emphasizes large-scale projects, including the Sudair Solar Project and MBR Solar Park, alongside grid integration challenges and efforts toward lifecycle sustainability and efficiency improvements.

ACWA Power and SEFE signed an MoU to establish a “hydrogen bridge” between Saudi Arabia and Germany to supply 200,000 tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030. ACWA Power will develop and operate green hydrogen production assets, while SEFE will market the hydrogen to European customers. This collaboration aims to support Germany’s decarbonization, energy security, and climate goals, aligning with the country’s increasing demand for green hydrogen.

India’s Union Minister of Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef, in New Delhi to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the critical minerals sector. The meeting focussed on establishing resilient mineral supply chains, investing in value-added processing, and fostering collaborations to support clean energy technologies.