Dr. Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Group CEO of Adnoc met online with Jennifer Granholm, US Secretary of Energy, on Friday to explore how to expand and intensify the work that the two countries are doing to intensify climate action ahead of the Leaders' Summit on Climate Change, which will be held in Washington DC next year.

Dr. Al Jaber discussed how investments in advanced technologies and research and development (R&D) through a diverse energy mix will help the region achieve low-carbon, long-term economic growth.

The discussion centered on how the two nations would further improve their energy partnership to promote cleaner energy growth, following the signing of a joint statement based on collaborative work on renewable energy, hydrogen, industrial decarbonization, carbon capture and storage, and other mitigation resources and technologies.

“The UAE claims that ambitious climate change will generate more economic development with reduced emissions,” Dr. Al Jaber said, adding, “The world will continue to depend on petroleum products for decades, it is critical to ensure that they are generated safely and as low carbon as feasible.” We are engaging in technologies to draw on our distinct competitive advantage as one of the world's least carbon-intensive producers.” He went on to say the following. “Climate change is at the heart of decision-making in the UAE, including domestic policy, foreign policy, and national security, just as they are in the US.”

The UAE's climate leadership was discussed, and the UAE's role as an early player in successful renewable energy projects both in UAE and across the world. The discussion also reflected on the UAE's production of new zero-carbon fuels like hydrogen, which have the potential to play a major role in the energy system over the next two decades. Dr. Al Jaber described how Adnoc is using its hydrocarbon infrastructure to produce blue hydrogen while also pursuing green hydrogen through the Abu Dhabi Hydrogen Alliance.

With the first CCUS facility in the country, Adnoc introduced the use of manufacturing carbon capture techniques, according to Dr. Al Jaber. The CCUS facility in Al Reyadah can currently capture 800,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. By 2030, ADNOC expects to increase its ability by at least sixfold, and it is prepared to share its knowledge with any country that wants to help bring this critical technology to scale. The meeting with Granholm follows US Special Envoy for Climate Change John Kerry's recent visit to Abu Dhabi for a global climatic dialogue organized by the UAE, where regional leaders promised strong action ahead of the COP26 meeting in Glasgow this November.

Kerry was able to tour a few of the country's most important clean energy properties, including Noor Abu Dhabi, the world's largest single-site solar farm. Both countries declared their intent to collaborate on major funds in funding decarbonization across the Mena region and beyond, with a focus on supporting the neediest countries as they adjust to the effects of climate change, at the end of the regional climate dialogue.

Adnoc is interested in exploring the hydrogen market with India's public and private sectors, according to Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, to help India's rising energy requirements and need for greener energy.

Dr. Al Jaber reaffirmed the close economic relations between the UAE and India during a High-Level Ministerial Session at a virtual Hydrogen Roundtable organized by The Energy Forum (TEF) in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) and India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). “India and the UAE have a unique partnership that is based on strengthening bilateral cooperation in a variety of fields. India is now one of our largest and most important trading partners, particularly in the energy sector.

As India's energy demand rises, we're prepared to meet it by making our entire product range available to the Indian market.” “At the same time, we acknowledge that the planet and India in particular, need more energy while emitting fewer greenhouse gases. And, as we jointly negotiate the global energy transition, we assume Hydrogen looks promising as a true carbon-free fuel. Although hydrogen is still in its development, it has the potential to be a game-changer and a fantastic chance to speed up the wider energy transition. Adnoc and the UAE are well suited to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Following remarks by India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan, Dr. Al Jaber said. As part of its existing industrial processes, Adnoc produces about 300,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year, according to Dr. Al Jaber. He believes that, with its current infrastructure and commercial-scale Carbon Capture Utilization Storage (CCUS) capabilities, the organization will become a key player in the fast-expanding blue hydrogen market.