EGA acquires Clean Energy Certificates from EWEC to support CelestiAL solar aluminium production

To support EGA's production of CelestiAL solar aluminium, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has purchased Clean Energy Certificates for 1.1 million megawatt hours of electricity provided by Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC).

The deal, which will certify EGA's production of about 80,000 tonnes of CelestiAL, represents the largest acquisition of Clean Energy Certificates that track the use of solar power in Abu Dhabi. The amount of solar power imported from the electrical grid determines how much CelestiAL EGA generates each year.

The certificates monitor the use of solar energy produced by Noor Abu Dhabi, one of the world's biggest single-site solar power facilities. A gigawatt of power is produced by the 3.2 million solar panels of the Noor Abu Dhabi facility near Sweihan.

"This agreement provides EGA with a new source of certified solar power for the production of our CelestiAL solar aluminium. I thank EWEC for their partnership, and for their leadership in the development of solar power in Abu Dhabi. The launch of CelestiAL solar aluminium last year was a landmark for EGA and our industry. CelestiAL and other low carbon metal is key to our sustainable future – both for our company and our world," said Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium.

About 60 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions from the worldwide aluminium sector are produced by the power needed to make aluminium. In keeping with the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, EGA drastically cuts these emissions through solar energy.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy issues Clean Energy Certificates that adhere to best practices and international standards for Renewable Energy Certificates. One of the primary companies facilitating the scheme's implementation is EWEC, which runs auctions selling certificates for electricity generated by solar and nuclear power in Abu Dhabi. The only recognised way in Abu Dhabi to demonstrate ownership of the economic and environmental advantages brought about by utilising clean, renewable energy is through the issuance of Clean Energy Certificates.

EGA now exchanges a small quantity of electricity with the grid to maximise the effectiveness of power generation. Before the start of 2022, EGA announced a joint strategic plan with TAQA, Dubal Holding, and EWEC to sell its natural gas-fired power assets and source all of its electricity from the grid, including an increasing amount of sustainable energy. The programme would enable EGA to significantly enhance its import of solar power and, as a result, production of CelestiAL. It would also allow power asset and grid optimisations within EWEC's fleet.

“EWEC is actively pursuing an ambitious energy transition plan, developing record-size solar power generation capacities to serve our current and future partners. We are proud of our strategic partnership with EGA to support the decarbonisation of their industry in line with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative objectives. We look forward to our continued collaboration with EGA and together playing a key role in the realisation of the UAE’s economic and sustainability agenda. Clean Energy Certificates connect demand for renewables with supply. We are glad to now have EGA as a customer for solar energy produced from our world-leading solar energy projects,” said Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Water and Electricity Company.