High-level UAE delegation visits Berlin for Tech Tour on Carbon Pricing & Hydrogen
A high-level visit of a delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Germany reinforces the strong Energy and Climate Partnership between both countries and sets the stage for an in-depth technical exchange during a three-day Tech Tour on carbon pricing and hydrogen trade. Parliamentary State Secretary Stefan Wenzel welcomed the delegation headed by H.E. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure joined by H.E. Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany, UAE Permanent Representative to IRENA, H.E. Dr. Alanoud Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and company representatives from ADNOC, ADIO, ADQ, Masdar and the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) .
As both countries strive to meet ambitious climate goals and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Tech Tour was designed to share best practices and to foster collaboration between key stakeholders from the UAE and Germany, addressing the critical challenges posed by the energy transition. The three-day program focused on key areas of mutual interest: carbon pricing policies, hydrogen infrastructure and technology, power system flexibility and distributed solar energy, and carbon management.
H.E. Stefan Wenzel remarked, “The Carbon Pricing & Hydrogen Tech Tour is another important milestone in the energy and climate partnership between the UAE and Germany. The collaborative efforts of all stakeholders from both the political and business sectors during this three-day study tour have once again highlighted the immense potential of energy and climate cooperation between our two countries. This Tech Tour has brought us one step closer to achieving our shared goal of accelerating the energy transition.”
H.E. Eng. Sharif Al Olama said: “The UAE looks upon Germany as a reliable partner with strong technical expertise and innovation capabilities to support our decarbonization efforts. The Tech Tour builds on the existing cooperation between the UAE and Germany in the fields of energy, climate, and hydrogen. We have come here with a strong belief that by joining forces, learning from each other, and sharing a willingness to make a difference, we will be in a better position to accelerate the energy transition and tackle the climate crisis.”
“This Tech Tour underscores the UAE and Germany’s shared vision to drive innovation in renewable energy and climate resilience,” said H.E. Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany, UAE Permanent Representative to IRENA. “With a focus on key areas of mutual interest, this partnership is laying the groundwork for a sustainable energy future. Together, we are working on advancing technologies and policies that will drive our nations’ energy transition and contribute to a more sustainable, low-carbon global economy.”
One of the key highlights was the Bilateral Hydrogen Task Force, where key high-level stakeholders from business, technology and politics convened from both Germany and the UAE to advance hydrogen projects and unlock value chain bottlenecks. Under the umbrella of the Energy and Climate Partnership, the Bilateral Task Force for Hydrogen and Synthetic Fuels was established in November 2021. Since then, the task force has been instrumental in strengthening bilateral cooperation on hydrogen between companies, research institutions and politics.
Additional bilateral meetings and expert workshops facilitated the exchange of experience between the UAE and Germany on carbon pricing strategies, power system flexibility, and climate action, including site visits to an PEM-electrolyser factory and the EUREF Campus, a hub for innovative energy and climate start-ups.