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SOLAR-
Oman is lining up a new solar plant: Oman’s Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (PWP) has launched a Request for Qualification (RFQ) for developers to build a 280 MW solar plant, according to a statement (pdf). The deadline for submission is 3 February 2025.
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Oman is upping its solar capacity: Oman inaugurated the nation’s first grid-connected solar power project Ibri II in January 2022. It is also on its way to finishing the USD 800 mn Manah 1 and Manah 2 solar energy projects, with a capacity of 500 MW. Both projects were 60% complete as of July and are expected to begin operations by mid-2025. Another 500 MW project is in the pipeline after Nama prequalified nine international companies or consortiums to develop the OMR 155 mn (c. USD 402.7 mn) the Ibri III Solar IPP in September. The developers included UAE’s Masdar, KSA’s Acwa Power, China’s Jinko Power, Singapore’s Sembcorp Utilities, Japan’s Sumitomo, and France’s TotalEnergies Renewables and Engie, with operations expected to begin in 4Q 2026.
WATER CONSERVATION-
UNCCD + JRC launch World Drought Atlas: The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) have launched The World Drought Atlas — an expansive visual resource on drought risks and solutions — as COP16 on desertification takes place in Riyadh. The Atlas was made in partnership with the Cima Research Foundation, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and the UN University Institute for Environment and Human Security, Wam reported.
Droughts affect key sectors: The Atlas uses infographics, maps, and case studies to illustrate how drought risks linked to human activities have an interconnected impact on five key sectors — water supply, agriculture, hydropower, inland navigation, and ecosystems. Impacts include reduced hydropower generation, causing higher energy prices and energy instability, disruption of international trade due to low water levels, and threats to ecosystems that can help mitigate drought effects.
No one is safe: Droughts are set to affect three in four people by 2050, the report found. Their occurrence has increased by 29% since 2000 pushing the UN to acknowledge human-made drought as a global emergency. The 21 case studies in the Atlas show that no country is immune to the consequences no matter its size, GDP, or latitude.
How can the world build resilience? The report breaks down three categories of measures to mitigate and adapt to drought risks, including governance, land-use management, and water supply management. These can be implemented by setting up early warning systems, supporting land restoration, and conserving groundwater, for example. The Atlas also provided a list of partners that can help provide knowledge and tools to support drought resilience around the world along with the UNCCD and JRC.
CARBON CAPTURE-
KSA + Uplink announce winners of carbon capture challenge: Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry and Economy and Planning Ministry have announced the winners of the Global Carbon Capture and Utilization Challenge, launched in collaboration with the UpLink platform, according to a statement. The winners will receive mentorship and support to scale up their ideas, whereas those which secured the top five spots will also receive up to CHF 300k (c.USD 327k).
The winners: Out of 315 global companies, 11 innovative startups were awarded for their innovations in carbon capture and utilization: UK’s Parallel Carbon, US-based Carbon To Stone, Estonia’s UP Catalyst, Belgium’s D-CBRN, Hungary’s eChemicles, US-based Oxylus Energy, China’s Nanjing Gasgene Biochemical Technology, Germany’s Icodos and enaDyne, US-based Dioxycle, and Germany’s Greenlyte Carbon Technologies.
OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-
- Jordan government gets EVs from South Korea: The Tourism Ministry of Jordan has received 10 EVs from the South Korean government to enhance services at key tourist and archaeological sites. (The Jordan Times)
