wiredInUSA March 2019

Hydrogen facility is under way

Solomon Islands’ cable boost

Image: dubaisce.gov.ae

Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela

In early February, Australian foreign minister Marise Payne joined Solomon Islands’ caretaker primeminister, Rick Houenipwela, in a ground-breaking ceremony in Honiara to mark the start of the next phase of the Coral Sea cable system. In his speech, Mr Hou thanked the Australian government for helping Solomon Islands realise its dream to be connected to a submarine cable network. Minister Payne confirmed that Australia will invest considerable sums in the Coral Sea cable system and Solomon Islands domestic network. “This is a tangible symbol of our ongoing commitment to the Solomon Islands and the Pacific,” she added. Both leaders highlighted that the new infrastructure will be transformative for the Solomon Islands nation. Construction is said to have progressedwell, and the landing station at Lengakiki will soon host a 4,700km fiber optic submarine cable to link Sydney, Port Moresby and Honiara.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of both the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, has broken ground for the first solar-driven hydrogen electrolysis facility in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The project will be implemented in collaboration between DEWA, Expo 2020 Dubai and Siemens. It will be built at DEWA’s outdoor testing facilities in the research and development center of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park in Dubai. At the event, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “Our aim is to make Dubai a model of energy efficiency and safety.” According to Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the project is the first of its kind in the MENA region to produce hydrogen using clean energy. The hydrogen produced at the facility will be stored and deployed for re-electrification, transportation and other uses.

wiredInUSA - March 2019

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