ABU DHABI: Masdar, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies and a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, and EDF Group, a low-carbon electricity leader, have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture company dedicated to energy efficiency and distributed solar power generation projects.

The agreement was signed by Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, and Valerie Levkov, EDF Senior Vice-President, Africa, Middle East and Mediterranean, at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

“Today’s announcement builds on our ongoing successful partnership with the EDF Group in among others the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Al Ramahi. “By leveraging our combined local and international experience, we aim to diversify our portfolio of renewable energy projects while tackling the significant challenge of reducing building- and industry-related carbon emissions. The new joint venture will also support Abu Dhabi in achieving its 2030 energy efficiency strategy, which aims to reduce overall electricity consumption by 22 per cent and water consumption by 32 per cent.”

Both entities have already developed a robust pipeline of opportunities.

“Our overarching objective is to promote a sustainable development model to fully address our clients’ increasing energy needs while making a positive contribution to the fight against global warming,” said Valerie Levkov, EDF Senior Vice-President, Africa, Middle East and Mediterranean.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s Global Energy Transformation: A Roadmap to 2050, energy efficiency measures alone could reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 15 per cent.

The report emphasises the need for long-term investment in electrification solutions and decentralised power generation, and for countries to improve their energy efficiency by between 2 and 3.2 per cent annually.

Masdar and EDF are partners in developing the 800-megawatt third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, and Saudi Arabia’s largest wind farm, the 400MW Dumat Al Jandal project. The two companies also successfully bid last year to develop the Noor Midelt Phase I hybrid solar power plant in Morocco.