Etihad Rail and Emerge Team Up for Solar-Powered Freight Terminal in UAE
Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, has signed a significant agreement with Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group. This partnership aims to solarise the Ghuweifat freight terminal, located at the UAE-Saudi Arabia border. The project will include a 600 kWp solar PV system and a 2.56 MWh battery storage system, expected to generate up to 85% of the terminal’s electricity needs.
The agreement was signed by Ahmed Al-Yafei, CEO of Etihad Rail Infrastructure, and Eng. Abdulaziz AlObaidli, Chairman of Emerge, with key figures like Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, in attendance. The initiative is part of Etihad Rail’s commitment to sustainability, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by over 8,500 tons during the contract period.
Shadi Malak emphasized the project’s role in supporting the UAE’s shift to a low-carbon economy, while Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi highlighted the collaboration’s importance for sustainable infrastructure. Luc Koechlin, CEO of EDF Middle East, expressed pride in contributing to the UAE’s energy transition.
This initiative aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategy and aims to reduce CO2 emissions in the UAE road transport sector by 21% annually by 2050. The Ghuweifat terminal’s strategic location enhances its role in promoting sustainable logistics solutions, setting a new standard for green infrastructure.
Doubts Revealed
Etihad Rail -: Etihad Rail is a company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that builds and operates trains for moving goods and people across the country.
Emerge -: Emerge is a partnership between two companies, Masdar and EDF Group, that works on projects to use solar energy and other clean energy sources.
Masdar -: Masdar is a company in the UAE that focuses on renewable energy, like solar and wind power, to help reduce pollution and protect the environment.
EDF Group -: EDF Group is a big company from France that produces and supplies electricity, including from renewable sources like solar and wind.
Solarise -: To solarise means to use solar panels to capture sunlight and turn it into electricity, which helps reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Ghuweifat -: Ghuweifat is a place in the UAE near the border with Saudi Arabia, where the freight terminal is located.
600 kWp solar PV system -: A 600 kWp solar PV system is a setup of solar panels that can produce 600 kilowatts of power at its peak, which is a lot of electricity from the sun.
2.56 MWh battery storage -: A 2.56 MWh battery storage is a big battery that can store 2.56 megawatt-hours of electricity, which helps save solar energy for use when the sun isn’t shining.
Net Zero by 2050 Strategy -: The Net Zero by 2050 Strategy is a plan by the UAE to stop adding more carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere than it can remove by the year 2050, to help fight climate change.
CO2 emissions -: CO2 emissions are the release of carbon dioxide gas into the air, mostly from burning fossil fuels, which contributes to global warming.
Sustainable logistics -: Sustainable logistics means moving goods in a way that is good for the environment, like using trains powered by clean energy instead of trucks that burn diesel.