NEXTCHEM brings the expertise of a multinational engineering player in downstream energy. (Image source: NEXTCHEM)

NEXTCHEM (MAIRE), a leader in technological solutions for industrialising the energy transition, has officially opened its new regional office in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant step in the company’s strategic expansion across the Middle East.

As part of the MAIRE Group, NEXTCHEM brings the expertise of a multinational engineering player in downstream energy services with strong Italian roots. The group operates in 50 countries, employs over 10,200 professionals, and has completed more than 1,500 projects worldwide.

MAIRE has maintained a presence in the UAE since the late 1990s through its engineering and construction unit, TECNIMONT, delivering key projects that support the region’s economic and social development. Currently, TECNIMONT and NEXTCHEM are both involved in ADNOC’s Hail and Ghasha onshore development, a major global initiative aimed at decarbonising the gas processing industry. The group also carries out strategic projects in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman.

NEXTCHEM heads MAIRE’s Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) business unit and is now reinforcing its Middle East footprint with a portfolio of advanced technologies and innovative solutions. Its focus spans three core areas: Sustainable Fertilisers and Nitrogen-Based Fuels, Low-Carbon Energy Vectors, and Sustainable Materials and Circular Solutions, all designed to support the region’s decarbonisation goals.

Industrial innovation

The Abu Dhabi office opening brought together members of MAIRE’s Board of Directors, senior executives from NEXTCHEM, ADNOC officials, and other industry leaders. Attendees included H.E. Lorenzo Fanara, Italian Ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Hazeem Al Suwaidi, CEO of BOROUGE Group, and Mr. Youssef Al Nowais, MAIRE’s long-term industrial partner and shareholder.

The new Abu Dhabi office positions NEXTCHEM to better collaborate with regional partners and clients, enabling faster deployment of low-carbon technologies and sustainable industrial solutions across the Gulf. The company’s move reflects the growing focus in the Middle East on sustainable energy development, innovative industrial technologies, and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

NEXTCHEM’s expansion in the region highlights the company’s long-term commitment to driving industrial innovation and sustainability, leveraging both local expertise and global capabilities to support critical projects that align with the UAE’s energy and climate ambitions.

“The opening of NEXTCHEM’s regional offices underscores our long-term commitment to the UAE and the wider Middle East region,” said Mohammed Nafid, Middle East STS region vice president. “Building on two decades of trusted engineering know-how through TECNIMONT, we are now bringing NEXTCHEM’s technology portfolio to support the decarbonization objectives of our clients. Customers are looking for partners that can combine proven project delivery with innovative, competitive, economically viable technological solutions,” added Nafid, “Our Abu Dhabi base will allow us to work even more closely with stakeholders to reinforce the region’s global leadership in the energy transition —project by project.”

Grid automation is essential to operating and maintaining the modern grid. (Image source: Hitachi Energy)

Hitachi Energy has been recognised as the global market share leader in grid automation for electric power transmission and distribution utilities by ARC Advisory Group, a leading technology research and advisory firm.

The recognition is part of ARC’s “Grid Automation Global Market Study 2024-2029,” published in June 2025.

According to the report, Hitachi Energy ranks as the No. 1 provider of grid automation products and services worldwide. The company also leads in key software categories, including Grid Control & Management, Outage Management, and AI Applications, as well as hardware categories such as Wireless and Wired Networks, Measurement devices, and RTUs.

“Grid automation is essential to operating and maintaining the modern grid,” said Richard Rys, director of consulting at ARC Advisory and lead researcher for grid automation. “Our extensive market share analysis of suppliers in this highly competitive space shows Hitachi Energy at the top of the leaderboard. We believe this company’s deep-rooted heritage in energy, extensive domain expertise, the breadth and depth of their integrated solutions, and strong focus on digitalisation and AI/ML capabilities will continue to drive their leadership in the industry.”

The report highlights strong growth in grid automation software, hardware, and services, driven by a changing generation mix, new grid-storage assets, and emerging market structures such as virtual power plants and support for demand response. Growth is particularly notable in regions building new electric grids or upgrading existing systems following weather events or conflicts that disrupt electricity distribution.

Enhancing grid stability

“The grid automation market is at an inflection point, with rapid global electrification and the urgency of the energy transition placing unprecedented demands on the grid. The future of the power grid depends on accelerating digital innovation and new capabilities,” said Massimo Danieli, Managing Director, Business Unit Grid Automation at Hitachi Energy. “As the market leader, we’re proud to work closely with our customers and the industry to deliver the advanced solutions that modernise grid infrastructure, enhance resilience, and speed the transition to cleaner energy systems.”

Hitachi Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of grid automation solutions that help electric utilities transform traditional power grids into reliable, efficient, and resilient systems capable of meeting the challenges of the evolving energy landscape. Its technologies support planning, construction, real-time monitoring, control and protection, maintenance, and trading operations, enabling safer, more reliable, and sustainable grid performance.

ARC’s Grid Automation Global Market Study, published annually since 2021, combines current market analysis with a five-year forecast and detailed supplier market share analysis. The study focuses on transmission and distribution utilities serving commercial, industrial, and residential customers, examining the key hardware, software, and services that automate grids from central control centers to the edge of distribution networks.

The event runs from 30 September to 2 October. (Image source: WETEX)

Guided by the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) will stage the 27th edition of the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) from 30 September to 2 October 2025 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

WETEX has become a landmark event that underscores the UAE’s leadership in advancing renewable energy, clean technologies and sustainability. It contributes directly to Dubai’s long-term vision of fostering a diversified and future-ready economy. The exhibition will span multiple areas, from water and energy to green mobility, smart cities, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

“WETEX reflects the UAE's unwavering commitment to sustainability and strengthens Dubai's position as a leading global green economy hub. The exhibition has established itself as one of the world's leading specialised events, providing a platform to showcase the latest innovations in clean energy, water and sustainability. It also supports building partnerships that contribute to achieving global climate goals and accelerating the transition to a green economy. WETEX annually brings together industry leaders, investors, innovators and government officials from around the world to share knowledge, explore opportunities and collaborate in building a more sustainable and resilient future,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA and Founder and Chairman of WETEX.

The event is recognised as a hub for collaboration between public and private sector organisations, providing opportunities to forge new partnerships, accelerate the energy transition and support global climate action. It also acts as a gateway for international businesses looking to expand into emerging green markets and attract investment.

Since its launch, WETEX has grown into one of the world’s most prominent sustainability-focused gatherings. The 2024 edition drew more than 50,000 visitors, 2,800 exhibitors from 65 nations, and 21 international pavilions.

Building on that success, WETEX 2025 aims to further strengthen cross-border collaboration, promote innovation, and encourage investment that drives a sustainable global future.

IEA’s new analysis suggests low-emissions hydrogen production could reach 37mn tonnes a year by 2030

Despite a recent wave of project delays and cancellations, low-emissions hydrogen production is still expected to expand to 2030, though at a slower pace than once signalled, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The 2025 edition of the IEA’s Global Hydrogen Review, tracks developments across the sector with particular focus on low-emissions hydrogen technologies.

Worldwide hydrogen demand reached nearly 100mn tonnes in 2024, up 2% from 2023 and broadly in line with overall energy demand growth. Most of this demand was met by hydrogen produced from fossil fuels without emissions-capturing measures, with oil refining and industry remaining the main consumers.

Producing hydrogen from fossil fuels remains much cheaper globally, a gap widened by falling natural gas prices and rising electrolyser costs. But the report expects the cost gap to narrow by 2030 due to lower technology costs, stronger renewables growth in some regions, and new regulations.

Even so, uptake of low-emissions hydrogen is lagging behind expectations. High costs, regulatory uncertainty and slow infrastructure development have restrained growth, with production projects particularly exposed. The IEA’s new analysis suggests low-emissions hydrogen production could reach 37mn tonnes a year by 2030, down from the 49mn tonnes projected from announced projects just a year earlier.

Not all projects reach completion, meaning actual capacity is likely to be lower. Still, projects already operational, under construction or with a final investment decision are set to increase more than fivefold by 2030, reaching over 4mn tonnes per year. An additional 6mn tonnes could also materialise by the end of the decade if stronger policy support ensures demand.

“Investor interest in hydrogen jumped at the start of this decade thanks to its potential to help countries deliver on their energy goals,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “The latest data indicates that the growth of new hydrogen technologies is under pressure due to economic headwinds and policy uncertainty, but we still see strong signs that their development is moving ahead globally. To help growth continue, policy makers should maintain support schemes, use the tools they have to foster demand, and expedite the development of necessary infrastructure.”

China remains the leading force in electrolyser deployment, accounting for 65% of installed or approved capacity and nearly 60% of global manufacturing. But the report warns that Chinese producers face challenges from excess capacity, as more than 20GW per year of output far outstrips current demand.

The review also highlights the shipping sector, finding that adoption of hydrogen-based fuels will require more compatible technologies and port readiness. Nearly 80 ports worldwide already handle chemical products, offering opportunities to manage hydrogen fuels in future.

A special section on Southeast Asia notes that announced projects could boost the region’s low-emissions hydrogen production to 430,000 tonnes a year by 2030, up from just 3,000 tonnes today. Achieving this will require faster renewables deployment, targeted policies and expansion of pilot projects.