The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (CREEI), laying the foundations for a new phase of cooperation with leading Chinese renewable energy and energy efficiency companies.
The MoU seeks to catalyse Abu Dhabi’s energy transition, promote energy efficiency, and empower the sector to play a bigger role in the transition towards a green, sustainable economy. It aims to encourage the exchange of information and expertise, in addition to identifying opportunities for cooperation.
The signing ceremony took place at the DoE headquarters in Abu Dhabi, with His Excellency Eng. Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of DoE, and H.E. Zhang Jianhua, Director of China’s National Energy Administration, in attendance.
H.E. Eng. Mohammed Juma bin Jarsh Al Falasi, Undersecretary of the DoE, and Mr Gu Hongbin, Deputy Director General of the CREEI, signed the MoU, which stipulates that the two parties work together on renewable energy activities, policies, and regulations, in addition to supporting renewable energy technology, energy mix policies, storage systems, and energy efficiency. The two parties will operate efficient energy transmission systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, collaborating on various areas related to renewable energy.
“The transition towards clean energy plays a key role in promoting the green economy,” said H.E. Al Falasi. “It is a strategic priority for us at the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy. This transformation embodies the future of the energy sector in Abu Dhabi, and we are committed to finding the best regional and international partnerships to succeed in this mission.”
“China boasts outstanding capabilities and expertise in the renewable energy sector,” H.E. added. “We have set the foundations for a strong partnership with various Chinese entities operating in the energy sector, to which we add one more partner. We are confident our relationship with the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute will be a fruitful one.”
For his part, Mr Gu Hongbin said: “The friendship and cooperation ties between China and the UAE are in constant expansion. This MoU is the beginning of a new phase of collaboration between our Institute and the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy. We look forward to outstanding results in terms of research and development in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector.”
The MoU provides both parties with the opportunity to exchange information on energy policies, studies, data, and statistics, all while cooperating to build capacity in the areas of energy strategies and policies and technology roadmaps. The MoU also calls for the design and implement of a secondment program for the benefit of both parties.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy had signed an MoU with State Grid Corporation of China on the side lines of the 24th World Energy Congress in September 2019; the MoU calls for collaboration in conducting feasibility studies to render the energy system more efficient, developing facilities for producing and storing clean energy that complements the existing power grid, implementing the gas-insulated underground cables and powerlines project, connecting the power grid with those of other emirates and countries around the region.