Moderate Middle East energy countries understand the importance of green energy policies as fossil fuels will no longer be relevant in a climate-sensitive world. The United Arab Emirates renewable energy company Masdar and Bapco Energies from Bahrain will co-develop up to 2GW of wind projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain, both parties announced this week.
This is Masdar’s first energy foray in Bahrain, and it’s with the nation’s energy leader Bapco Energies. The agreement will focus on exploring the joint development of near-shore and offshore wind projects and will support the Kingdom of Bahrain’s National Energy Strategy target to cut emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
“As a global clean energy pioneer, Masdar will utilize its well-established expertise and track record in delivering wind energy projects globally, both onshore and offshore. It is a privilege to be supporting the Kingdom of Bahrain to achieve its net zero ambitions and power a more sustainable future,” says Masdar Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi.
“Today marks a significant milestone in Bapco Energies’ pathway towards sustainable energy development. Our partnership with Masdar demonstrates our commitment towards diversifying the Kingdom of Bahrain’s energy mix to include cleaner energy sources, underscoring our role as leaders in renewable energy development. This strategic collaboration signifies a bold step towards realizing the ambitions outlined in Bahrain’s National Energy Strategy, propelling us closer to our net-zero goals. Together, we will pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for generations to come,” says Bapco Energies Group Chief Executive Officer Mark Thomas.
Masdar has developed a number of landmark wind projects across the world, including the 400MW Dumat Al Jandal wind farm, the largest in the Middle East and the first in Saudi Arabia, the 630MW London Array offshore wind project in the United Kingdom which powers half a million British homes and the 103.5MW UAE Wind Program, which utilizes innovative technology to capture low wind speeds at utility scale.
Masdar is aiming for a renewable energy portfolio capacity of 100GW by 2030, as well as supporting the target set out in The UAE Consensus to triple global renewables capacity by the end of this decade, and aims to be a leading producer of green hydrogen by the same year.