INTERVIEW - MMEC Mannesmann plans to assemble electrolysers in UAE

MMEC Mannesmann LLC (MMEC) strongly believes that Abu Dhabi will be the manufacturing hub of the region for electrolysers and as an Abu Dhabi-based EPC & Technology Integrator company, it is seeking to support the country’s ambitious hydrogen strategy, chief executive Anas Aljuaidi told Renewables Now.

MMEC has been active in the UAE’s oil and gas sector for over 16 years. However, four years ago, after witnessing the rapid revolution in the field of renewable and clean energy, MMEC opened its renewable energy division and subsequently began transitioning towards clean hydrogen.

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"Our strategic plan is to be part of the energy transition from oil and gas to renewables. And as we stated, our strategic plan is to grow up 20%-30% every year in renewables till we become a 100% renewable energy company. Of course, that will not be a thing that we will do in a day because the world needs all kinds of energy. We are trying to decarbonise the existing energy sources as much as we can. And we are trying to grow our renewable projects," Aljuaidi said in an interview on the sidelines of the World Electrolysis Congress in Germany.

Since the start of its green shift, MMEC Mannesmann has been involved in several hydrogen projects. It has acted as the main EPC contractor in cooperation with strategic partners for the supply and operation of the first-of-its-kind high-speed hydrogen refuelling station in Masdar City, and another unit in Dubai which were used during the COP28 summit at the end of 2023.

"We began focusing on hydrogen, particularly green hydrogen, and built the first hydrogen refuelling station in the UAE with rapid charging capabilities of 700 bars. This marked the beginning of our journey," the chief executive said.

These two stations are likely to be followed by more. "We are in the bidding stage for another two refuelling stations and they would be bigger than what we did. We are talking about 2-MW projects for refuelling stations in the region," Aljuaidi added.

MMEC is also supporting UAE’s efforts to localise electrolyser manufacturing in the country.

"In late 2022, we have started our journey by signing a memorandum of understanding with Emirates Steel and our strategic partners to explore the implementation of the first five megawatts of SOEC -- solid oxide technology, utilising heat sources from Emirates Steel," Aljuaidi said as he explained the company's journey to hydrogen.

MMEC is the initiator of the Abu Dhabi Hydrogen Electrolyser Programme (ADHEP) which is aimed at developing and executing the first UAE-built electrolyser manufacturing and hydrogen production facility using SOEC-based technology which MMEC aims to accomplish.

When asked about the technology MMEC Mannesmann is considering for the localisation of electrolyser assembly in the UAE, the chief executive said: ''We aim to remain technology-independent based on the specific requirements of our clients. From my perspective, all of these technologies are qualified and necessary, but their suitability depends on the application. For instance, if we're discussing a refuelling station, I wouldn't recommend solid oxide; instead, I'd suggest alkaline or PEM. Conversely, for a large industrial company with substantial heat sources, I'd recommend SOEC. Ultimately, the choice depends on the application and where it will be implemented."