Interview with Dietmar Siersdorfer, CEO, Siemens Middle East

We plan to switch our own power consumption to 100% green electricity by 2023 and are aiming to make our own operations climate-neutral by 2030.

Can you tell us more about Siemens Energy endeavours in terms of “green” hydrogen? Are there any other innovative technologies Siemens Energy is exploring and/or investing in?

We are in the process of finalising our green hydrogen plant in Dubai with DEWA, and there will be a hand over ceremony soon. This project has been 2 years in the making. It will be the first project to produce green hydrogen in the Middle East region. It is very exciting. It shows that the UAE is looking ahead to new technologies in all avenues and ideas. They are not followers; they are leaders.

Earlier this year, we also signed agreements with Mubadala and Masdar in the green hydrogen space. Under the agreement with Mubadala, we will work to develop the UAE’s hydrogen economy, and to drive investment and development of advanced technology, manufacture of equipment, and green hydrogen and synthetic fuel production. In association with this agreement, together with Masdar, we are joining forces with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, Etihad Airways, German Lufthansa, Marubeni Corporation, and Khalifa University on an ambitious project that will help pave the way for the development of the UAE’s green hydrogen economy. We are developing a photovoltaic (PV) powered electrolyser facility, to demonstrate stateof-the-art green hydrogen production technology and present sustainable fuel use cases. The first phase of the demonstration programme will focus on the production of green hydrogen for passenger cars and buses in the Masdar City area. In parallel, a kerosene synthesis plant will be built to convert the majority of the green hydrogen into sustainable aviation fuel. In the second phase of the programme, the production of decarbonised fuels for the maritime sector will be explored.

What are the sustainability targets and investments made by Siemens Energy to contribute to the fight against climate change?

We have set ambitious but achievable goals: We plan to switch our own power consumption to 100% green electricity by 2023 and are aiming to make our own operations climateneutral by 2030.

At the end of last year, we released our first independent Sustainability Report. Sustainability is firmly anchored in all our actions, and our President and CEO Christian Bruch has taken over responsibility as Chief Sustainability Officer, to underscore this commitment. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, guide us in our plans and actions. Siemens Energy actively endorses the Paris Agreement on climate change and supports ambitious political programmes, such as the European Green Deal and the EU hydrogen strategy.

Further crystalising the importance of sustainability in our operations, compensation for members of the executive board is tied to the company’s sustainable development, and meeting certain Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria. Performance indicators selected for ESG targets are measurable quantitatively and are auditable.

How is Siemens Energy setting the standards for the industry in the region when it comes to clean energy?

Siemens Energy owns a majority stake in Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, which is one of the largest wind companies in the world. We have a huge amount of wind turbines all over the world. We are one of the leaders in producing green energy. From a portfolio perspective, we have the renewable generation and the gas turbines, which we feel will be the bridge fuel over the next few years. Today, gas turbines are running with natural gas, but ours are also capable of running on hydrogen. If it is green hydrogen, then it is completely green electricity. Today, they can take up to 60% hydrogen, but by 2030, this will be up to 100%.

We strongly believe that in order to advance the energy transition, partnership is the key to unlocking the potential of innovation. Just this year we have partnered with Gamesa to develop an innovative solution that fully integrates an electrolyser into an offshore wind turbine as a single synchronised system to directly produce green hydrogen. The companies intend to provide a full-scale offshore demonstration of the solution by 2025/2026.

We are also collaborating with Air Liquide to develop a large scale electrolyser partnership for sustainable hydrogen production.

Furthermore, our partnership with Linde Engineering is exploring the use of renewable energy and energy storage to help clients in the petrochemical industry meet carbon emissions- and environmental sustainability goals.

Unit 1 of Barakah Plant Started Commercial Operations By:Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation

Barakah Plant project directly addresses the leading cause of climate change – one of the world’s most pressing challenges

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) announced on April 6, 2021 that the Unit 1 of Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant gas started commercial operations. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, applauded this achievement, describing it as a significant milestone in the UAE’s long-term roadmap for sustainable, knowledge-based economic prosperity, benefiting many generations to come.

His Highness said that the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Program, which is run by the UAE talented and fully qualified Emirati expertise, along with global expertise, will be a game changer of the energy sector in the country. His Highness added that the UAE Program became a global and pioneering role model in close international cooperation in such strategic projects.

The UAE government entity mandated to deliver the UAE program, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), part of ADQ, one of region’s largest holding companies, confirmed that its operating and maintenance subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company (Nawah) successfully started commercial operations of the first Unit of Barakah Plant, following the completion of all testing activities. The 1400 MW Unit 1 is now providing constant, reliable, and sustainable electricity around the clock, with three further units to begin generating in the coming years. As a result, ENEC is now leading the largest decarbonisation effort of any industry in the UAE to date.

His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of ENEC, said: “The UAE set a clear roadmap with solid principles to ensure this project’s development in accordance with the highest international industry standards of safety and quality with full transparency.” “Our investment in pioneering technologies and the decarbonisation of our electricity production not only advances the UAE’s clean energy leadership but also produces tangible socioeconomic and environmental benefits. We congratulate all of our partners as we continue to support the prosperity and sustainable growth of our country”.

ENEC is now leading the largest decarbonisation effort of any industry in the UAE to date.

His Excellency Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC said: “After more than a decade of strategic planning, program development and construction, today we are confidently marking the start of a new chapter in for the UAE’s transition to cleaner energy sources. The Barakah Plant uses a proven technology for significantly reducing carbon emissions to tackle climate change, one of the biggest challenges the world has ever faced. Our talented team of UAE Nationals and international experts has worked tirelessly with the support of our Leadership and international partners to reach this pivotal milestone in the UAE Program’s history.”

Barakah One Company, ENEC’s subsidiary in charge of the financial and commercial activities of the Barakah project, signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) in 2016 to purchase all electricity generated at the plant for the next 60 years. Electricity produced at Barakah Plant feeds into the national grid in the same manner as other energy plants, providing clean electricity to homes and businesses across the country.

The start of commercial operations follows a period of extensive testing, overseen by the independent national regulator – the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). FANR conducted 312 independent inspections since the start of Barakah’s development. These reviews have been conducted alongside more than 42 assessments and peer reviews by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).

The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, located in the Al Dhafra region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world, with four APR-1400 Units. Construction of the Plant began in 2012 and has progressed steadily ever since. Unit 2 has now completed the fuel load process and is working through all of the required processes prior to start-up, scheduled for later in 2021. Construction of Units 3 and 4 are in the final stages with the Units 94% and 89% complete respectively, benefitting from the experience and lessons learned during the construction of Units 1 and 2. The construction of the Barakah Plant as a whole is now more than 95% complete.