Masdar Teams Up with EGA to Explore Hydrogen Aluminium Production Opportunities

Masdar, a prominent global clean energy corporation, and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the world's leading producer of premium aluminium, have formed a partnership to collaborate on initiatives aimed at decarbonizing aluminium production and fostering the growth of low-carbon aluminium.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, presided over the signing ceremony.

Masdar and EGA will collaborate on examining the potential development of renewable energy initiatives, including battery storage and the production and storage of green hydrogen, to facilitate the decarbonization of EGA's current operations in the UAE, as well as any prospective operations in the nation.

The collaboration extends globally, where Masdar will assist EGA in powering new aluminum production facilities with renewable energy sources. Masdar, recognized as a pioneer in renewable energy and the UAE's primary clean energy enterprise, specializes in developing and managing large-scale renewable energy projects worldwide.

The production of aluminum demands significant energy, with approximately 60 percent of the global aluminum industry's greenhouse gas emissions stemming from generating the necessary electricity using fossil fuels.

Mohamed Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, expressed pride in the collaboration with EGA aimed at decarbonizing the aluminum production process. He emphasized that robust partnerships like this are essential for expediting the journey towards Net Zero. Al Ramahi highlighted that when organizations pool their expertise and resources to decarbonize crucial industries, they not only safeguard the environment but also enhance economic growth, a core aspect of Masdar's mission. He expressed anticipation for crafting additional compelling propositions for global markets to optimize the economic advantages of renewable energy utilization.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, underscored the crucial role of aluminum in the economy-wide decarbonization effort, noting the potential for demand in this sector to surge by up to 80 percent by 2050. He emphasized the importance of sustainable aluminum production in realizing this potential. Bin Kalban highlighted EGA's partnership with Masdar, another prominent UAE industrial player and a global leader in clean energy, as a means to unlock opportunities for decarbonizing existing operations, including the expansion of CelestiAL solar aluminum production, and to secure low-carbon growth. He expressed anticipation for the collaborative exploration of opportunities with Masdar, both within the UAE and globally.

EGA manufactures one out of every 25 tonnes of aluminum produced globally. Its aluminum constitutes the largest export from the UAE after oil and gas and is exported to over 50 countries. In 2021, EGA achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first company globally to commercially produce aluminum using solar power, yielding nearly 39 thousand tonnes that year. By 2023, EGA increased its production of CelestiAL solar aluminum to approximately 66 thousand tonnes.

Founded in 2006, Masdar stands as a leading force in clean energy within the UAE. Operating across over 40 countries, Masdar has ventured into a diverse array of renewable energy projects, boasting a collective capacity exceeding 20 GW. Dedicated to forward-looking goals, Masdar endeavors to achieve a renewable energy capacity of no less than 100 GW by 2030, coupled with an annual production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen within the same timeframe.