Adnoc will be building a large-scale power system running on repurposed electric vehicle batteries, which it will use in its operations in a bid to boost its decarbonisation efforts.
The Battery Energy Storage System is projected to reduce the carbon emissions of Adnoc's remote drilling rigs by up to 25 per cent, decreasing their reliance on diesel generators, and cut their energy costs by half, Adnoc said on Wednesday.
The system, which will be built in the UAE, can hold up to two megawatts of power within a 20-foot storage container and will be trialled in partnership with German start-up Power ID, it said. Each container will be mobile, allowing it to be deployed to remote operation sites.
Adnoc has established the UAE’s first Battery Centre of Excellence at the company's Research and Innovation Centre to support the long-term development and deployment of the systems.
The centre will "spearhead research into promising new cell technologies and future battery energy systems", Adnoc said.
“Leveraging innovative technology and partnerships is a key pillar in Adnoc strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. The Battery Energy Storage System is a cutting-edge innovation that will enhance efficiency and allow us to continue decarbonising our operations," Sophie Hildebrand, chief technology officer at Adnoc, said.
Repurposing EV batteries – reusing them in other applications instead of disposing of them – holds a lot of potential.
They can be used in decentralised energy storage such as in fast charging stations, where batteries can be used to provide additional power, as well as solar energy storage for rooftop or microgrid systems, a study from the Natural Resources Defence Council said.
Batteries can also be repurposed into large, centralised grid operations to combat challenges like storing excess solar energy during the day and releasing it at night, or managing differences in energy demand on both a daily basis, the US non-profit NRDC said.
And with EV battery emissions lower compared to manufacturing it, the longer it stays in operation, the lower its life cycle emissions, it said.
Adnoc's new Battery Energy Storage System, which uses advanced EV technology, comprises 24 second-life EV batteries joined together using silicon carbide converters, the company said.
Each system contains a combination of high performance and high energy cells to provide rig operators with power output and uses disruptive liquid cooling technology, instead of conventional methods, to enhance efficiency and lifespan, it said.
“This system ... is unique for its high energy density ... the compact nature of the system will allow for convenient deployment to remote locations, helping Adnoc to cut emissions from its off-grid production activities," said Naser Abu Daqqa, founder and managing director of Stuttgart-based Power ID.
Adnoc's new battery system will be a key factor in boosting its decarbonisation agenda across its operations as it moves towards its net-zero by 2045 goal.
Its decarbonisation plan is backed by an initial allocation of $15 billion towards low-carbon solutions, new energies and climate technologies.
Adnoc has made a number announcements related to its decarbonisation efforts this week, alongside the continuing Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference.
The company signed an agreement with Occidental Petroleum to undertake a joint preliminary engineering study to build the first megaton-scale direct air capture plant outside the US amid the energy industry's push towards decarbonisation.
Adnoc Gas, on the other hand, has awarded a $615 million contract to oil services company Petrofac to build one of the largest carbon capture projects in the Middle East and North Africa.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
