The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States are enhancing their strategic energy partnership, with a primary focus on clean and renewable energy technologies. This collaboration aims to support global energy security and assist emerging economies in their energy transition.

A key initiative in this partnership is the UAE-US Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), which was launched in November 2022. The initiative aims to mobilize $100 billion to deploy 100 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy by the year 2035, as reported by Zawya.

In a significant move, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has acquired a 35% stake in ExxonMobil’s blue hydrogen project located in Texas. This facility is expected to produce up to one billion cubic feet (bcf) of blue hydrogen daily and generate more than one million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of low-carbon ammonia.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy is actively promoting innovation through collaborations with the University of Arizona and the International Renewable Energy Agency. These agreements focus on exploring advanced clean energy technologies, including solar power in space and tools designed to accelerate climate action.

Masdar, a key player in the renewable energy sector, has established a strong presence in the US, with ambitions to develop a 25GW clean energy portfolio over the next decade. Since beginning its US investments in January 2019, Masdar has focused on wind, solar, and battery storage projects across multiple states.

The company has formed partnerships with EDF Renewables North America and has acquired a 50% stake in Terra-Gen, which has significantly broadened its operations in the US. The acquisition of Terra-Gen added 3.7GW of operating capacity and a development pipeline of 12GW encompassing wind, solar, and battery storage projects. Currently, Masdar’s US portfolio exceeds 5GW, primarily focusing on projects in California and Texas.

In another notable development, the UAE is set to launch a groundbreaking energy storage project in Abu Dhabi in January 2025. This project will combine solar power with battery storage to facilitate round-the-clock renewable energy dispatch. It will feature the world’s largest solar and battery energy storage system (BESS), consisting of a 5.2GW solar photovoltaic plant and a 19GWh BESS.