Gigawatt-scale developments for the Middle East

UAE

Luc Koechlin, CEO of Middle East for the EDF Group, talks to The Energy Year about the company’s numerous state-of-the-art clean electricity projects in the GCC and the important role that local electricity generation, distribution and consumption can play in advancing the energy transition. EDF is the French state-owned multinational electric utility company.

What are the projects that EDF is involved in that are contributing to the energy transition?
Our exponential growth is visible from the assets we secured. During the past year, we doubled our assets and reached over 13 GW in gross capacity across the region. We have more than 830 employees, several entities and subsidiaries, and two joint ventures: Emerge, which specialises in distributed solar and battery storage, and Nojoom, which focuses on urban smart lighting.
One of our flagship projects is the Lightning Project, developed alongside ADNOC, TAQA and two international partners. Its uniqueness lies in two subsea transmission lines that aim to connect ADNOC’s offshore operations to the decarbonised onshore electricity grid, which serves power from the Barakah nuclear plant and solar installations such as the Al Dhafra 2.1-GW solar plant.
The estimated carbon dioxide emissions reduction of the Lightning asset is 30%, and the project can be expanded and duplicated across the region. Its commercial launch is planned for the beginning of 2026.
The Al Dhafra solar power plant is another flagship development in the UAE. When we commissioned the project in 2023, it was the largest single-site solar farm in the world, and this year we reached the financial close on another giga-project – the 1.5-GW Al Ajban Solar PV plant. In addition, since 2017, we have operated and maintained Phase 3 of the Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which adds 1 GW to our portfolio.
EDF is a hydropower leader with a portfolio of more than 600 hydroelectric dams and more than 40 GW of hydro-pumped storage projects across the globe. In the UAE, we support DEWA in the construction of the Hatta Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPSPP), which contributes to the UAE’s storage needs and plays a crucial role in balancing the intermittence of renewables.
The HPSPP is a giant battery with up to six hours of storage. The plant pumps water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir during off-peak hours during the day when there is an excess of available electricity. At night, its role shifts from storage to clean electricity generation, as it releases water from the upper to the lower reservoir through a giant turbine, which produces clean electricity for the grid.

What should policymakers focus on to advance the energy transition and how can EDF help?
Although the electricity sector is focusing on generating more renewable energy, the cheapest and cleanest electricity is the one that we don’t consume. This is the bread and butter of one of our entities, Dalkia, which has more than 450 employees focused on energy sobriety and encouraging policymakers to orient their focus towards it. Energy-saving projects need government backing.
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office have chosen Nojoom to renovate 133,473 street luminaires with energy-efficient LED lights, generating more than 75% energy savings. We handle the project supply, installation, financing, operation and maintenance.
Through Emerge, an EDF Group and Masdar joint venture, we support decarbonisation goals across the GCC. The company develops distributed solar solutions for C&I [commercial and industrial] businesses, as well as battery storage solutions. We believe that the future is in local generation and consumption. Today, Emerge has secured a portfolio of around 300 MW at no upfront cost for its local clients and has become the largest local player in this industry.

Will hydrogen play a role in EDF’s future developments?
Electrons and molecules will play an important role in the future low-carbon energy mix. EDF is involved in several green hydrogen projects in the region, with one development plot already awarded in Oman. Hydrom, the country’s green hydrogen orchestrator, has selected us to develop 4.5 GW of solar and wind to power the production of 1 million tonnes per year of green hydrogen and green ammonia.
We have the experience and technological knowhow to develop, build and operate the infrastructure, and we are on track to secure the offtake for said hydrogen and derivatives.

What do you expect will be the energy industry’s focus in the future?
For EDF, being part of the future of energy means leading through innovation. Equally important will be the size of the projects we take on, the structure of our partnerships and the way we build our offers to remain competitive.
Competition drives R&D, innovation and experience. With a yearly investment of EUR 700 million in R&D, we are at the forefront of energy innovation globally. We collaborate with domestic energy players who are also playing a role in the global energy scene. For example, ENEC [Emirates Nuclear Energy Company] is now chairing the World Nuclear Association, where EDF is one of the biggest members.
We are seeking to expand internationally. Masdar has been investing in some of EDF’s assets in the US. By being present in this region, we develop and strengthen our relationships with local energy industry players, and expand our role here and in other parts of the world.

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