Middle Eastern energy supplier Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) has announced new commitments to reduce carbon emissions by 2030 in its United Arab Emirates-based operations and across the group.
The company, which operates upstream and midstream oil and gas assets across the UAE as well as power and water production and distribution utilities, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% across its group portfolio by 2030, against 2019 levels.
It is also targeting a 33% reduction in emissions from its UAE portfolio by 2030.
Both targets cover Scope 1 and 2 emissions, which cover direct emissions from the company’s own assets, as well as indirect emissions related to the company’s use of power, steam, heat and cooling.
Taqa has not included Scope 3 emission targets in its strategy — these are the so-called “end-user” related emissions, which occur at the point when energy is consumed by third-party customers.
The targets set by Taqa are part of a broader 2030 Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) strategy, which includes goals in occupational health and safety, diversity, community engagement and corporate governance.
The company said the strategy is a “credible step” towards achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050.
“As a major regional utility, we are determined to play our part without compromising on security of supply,” Taqa group chief executive Jasim Husain Thabet said.
In energy source diversification, Taqa is expanding its renewable energy portfolio and aims to increase this to a share of over 30% of total power generation by 2030.
Last month, Taqa and compatriot Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) awarded a $3.8 billion contract to put in place Adnoc’s Lightning project, which aims to drive down carbon emissions at the state-owned giant’s offshore oil and gas facilities through subsea power transmission systems.
In November last year, Taqa and Adnoc formed a joint venture to develop what they defined as a “clean energy powerhouse” with at least 30 gigawatts of renewable energy generating capacity by 2030, comprising hydrogen and solar.
On the hydrogen front, Taqa has to date signed two memorandums of understanding for green hydrogen. One involves a co-operation with Abu Dhabi Ports to develop a 2 GW green hydrogen to ammonia export project in Abu Dhabi; the second is to develop green hydrogen capacity for green steel production at Emirates Steel’s facilities.
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