ADNOC and National Central Cooling Company PJSC Tabreed has announced their joint venture to commence operating G2COOL, the first district cooling project in the Gulf region to utilize geothermal energy. This plant, located in Masdar City, will play a crucial role in decarbonizing the cooling process for buildings while also diversifying the UAE’s energy mix in line with the UAE National Energy Strategy 2050.

The G2COOL plant harnesses naturally occurring hot water from two geothermal wells, which is then used in absorption cooling technology to produce chilled water for Tabreed’s district cooling activities. This clean energy source will account for 10% of Masdar City’s cooling needs.

This project is made possible by ADNOC’s initial $15 billion (AED55 billion) investment in low-carbon solutions, which aligns with their decarbonization plan and net zero by 2045 ambition.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC Executive Director for Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth, expressed his excitement about tapping into the abundant underground thermal energy available in the UAE.

“Early efficiency performance from the G2COOL plant has surpassed our expectations, proving that geothermal energy is a viable way to decarbonize the way we cool buildings, which is one of the most energy-intensive activities in our region. I look forward to working with partners and pioneers to find fresh ways of harnessing this underground heat to further support ADNOC’s accelerated decarbonization plan and net zero by 2045 ambition,” Al Kaabi said.

In the UAE, cooling buildings account for up to 70% of electricity consumption. District cooling offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional methods, with a 50% increase in energy efficiency. By incorporating geothermal energy into district cooling operations, the demand for electricity from the grid can be significantly reduced.

“As our country welcomes the world for COP28, Tabreed is proud to announce such promising results from the Gulf region’s first geothermal energy project. This pioneering pilot project has confirmed that geothermal provides a viable, renewable source of clean energy that can support district cooling across the UAE. Our partnership with ADNOC on geothermal shows what can be achieved through a shared commitment to progress,” said Khaled Al Qubaisi, Tabreed Chairman.

Ahmed Baghoum, CEO of Masdar City, expressed his delight in working with Tabreed and ADNOC on this project, which will contribute to achieving their goal of net-zero emissions. He also acknowledged the challenges of cooling sustainably and the significant progress made through this partnership.

“Cooling more sustainably is one of Masdar City’s greatest challenges. Producing the equivalent of 10% of our district cooling needs using geothermal energy is an enormous leap on our journey to achieving net zero. We are delighted to work with Tabreed and ADNOC on this project to create a more sustainable future together,” said Baghoum.