Vaisala’s participation aligns with its sustainability goals. (Image source: Vaisala)

Vaisala, a measurement technology company, has contributed its advanced CO₂ sensors to an exhibit at the 2025 Biennale Architettura in Venice, Italy. 

The Belgian Pavilion’s exhibition, Building Biospheres, curated by landscape architect Bas Smets and commissioned by the Flanders Architecture Institute, explores the use of trees to create a comfortable indoor climate.

“Climate change and the recent crises that we have faced, are forcing us to rethink the relationship between architecture and nature,” Smets said. “Historically and traditionally, architecture has isolated itself from the natural world, recreating an indoor climate with heating, ventilation and mechanical tools. As humans we prefer the conditions of a sub-tropical climate, so our project will investigate and demonstrate what happens when sub-tropical plants such as the camphor tree are used to manage the indoor environment.”

The Biennale di Venezia, established in 1895, is one of the world’s oldest cultural festivals, featuring around 30 permanent national pavilions. This year’s Biennale Architettura aims to eliminate waste, recycle materials, and regenerate natural systems, showcasing how the built environment can harmonise with nature.

In November 2024, a prototype of Building Biospheres was constructed at Ghent University’s Faculty of Bioscience Engineering. Professor Kathy Steppe and her team set up a greenhouse facility, monitoring sub-tropical trees with TreeWatch technology. The plants and monitoring equipment were later relocated to the Belgian Pavilion in Venice. Key environmental factors measured include light, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide, which significantly affect indoor comfort and well-being.

Advancing technology

“In order to maintain optimal conditions inside buildings, it is usually necessary to implement some form of heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning, but this can be very costly, both financially and from a carbon footprint perspective,” Prof. Steppe explained. “Plants actively interact with and help regulate their local climate through processes such as photosynthesis and transpiration. This means, for example, that the CO2 produced by humans, other organisms and natural processes can be taken up by plants during photosynthesis, helping to prevent excessive indoor CO₂ build-up.”

Indoor CO₂ levels impact comfort and performance. Well-ventilated spaces typically have 450–1,000 ppm CO₂, but levels above this can cause drowsiness, while concentrations exceeding 2,000 ppm may lead to headaches, poor concentration, and other symptoms. Extremely high levels can even be fatal.

The International Energy Agency notes that buildings account for 30% of global energy consumption and 26% of energy-related emissions. The Building Biospheres exhibit investigates how plants can reduce reliance on energy-intensive building management systems, challenging conventional architectural practices.

Vaisala’s participation aligns with its sustainability goals.

“We were delighted to be invited to participate in this highly respected event,” said Pekka Ravila, Vaisala’s vice president, Industrial Measurements EMEA. “Not just because it highlights the performance of our CO₂ sensors, but mostly because this represents a very exciting opportunity to help create a paradigm shift in the way that buildings are designed and managed. If we can achieve that, the potential beneficial impacts on climate change will be enormous.”

CCS capacity is forecast to grow strongly.

Carbon capture and storage capacity is forecast to quadruple by 2030, and the Middle East has ‘significant CCS ambition’, according to a new report from DNV

Cumulative investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) is expected to reach US$80bn over the next five years, according to DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook: CCS to 2050 report.
Up to now, growth has been limited and largely associated with pilot projects, but a sharp increase in capacity in the project pipeline indicates that CCS is at a turning point. CCS will grow from 41 MtCO2/yr captured and stored today to 1,300 MtCO2/yr in 2050, which will be 6% of global emissions, DNV forecasts.

The immediate rise in capacity is being driven by short-term scale up in North America and Europe, with natural gas processing still the main application for the technology. Europe is moving projects forward amidst tightening emissions regulations and developers are advancing in the US, taking advantage of the established 45Q tax credit. Hard to abate industries such as steel and cement production are forecast to be the main driver of growth from 2030 onwards, accounting for 41% of annual CO2 captured by mid-century. Maritime onboard capture is expected to scale from the 2040s in parts of the global shipping fleet.

As the technologies mature and scale, the average costs will drop by an average of 40% by 2050.

Ditlev Engel, CEO, Energy Systems at DNV said “Carbon capture and storage technologies are a necessity for ensuring that CO2 emitted by fossil-fuel combustion is stopped from reaching the atmosphere and for keeping the goals of the Paris Agreement alive. DNV’s first Energy Transition Outlook: CCS to 2050 report clearly shows that we are at a turning point in the development of this crucial technology.

“The biggest barrier to the very much needed acceleration of CCS deployment is policy uncertainty. Policy shifts, not technology or costs, have been responsible for many CCS project failures. However, policy support for CCS is firming across most world regions.”

Recent turmoil and budgetary pressure in the global economy pose risks to CCS deployment, potentially shifting priorities and removing necessary finance needed.

Jamie Burrows, Global Segment Lead CCUS, Energy Systems at DNV said “CCS is entering a pivotal decade and the scale of ambition and investment must increase dramatically. It remains essential for hard-to-decarbonise sectors like cement, steel, chemicals, and maritime transport. But as DNV’s report shows, delays in reducing carbon dioxide emissions will place an even greater burden on carbon dioxide removal technologies. To stay within climate targets, we must accelerate the deployment of all carbon management solutions -from industrial capture to nature-based removal - starting today."

Middle East developments

DNV notes that the Middle East is home to three operational CCS projects and six under construction. Operating facilities include the Al Reyadah steel plant in the UAE, Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG Facility, and Saudi Arabia's Uthmaniyah gas processing plant.

The world’s largest CO2 utilisation facility, United Jubail Petrochemical, is also in Saudi Arabia. The facility converts 0.5 MtCO2/yr into feedstock for chemical processes.

The main focus of regional CCS development has evolved from EOR to decarbonising energy and the production of low-carbon fuels. The UAE's Long Term Strategy highlights CCS as crucial for industrial sector decarbonisation, targeting 43.5 MtCO2/yr capacity by 2050. ADNOC aims for 10 MtCO2/yr captured by 2030 and net-zero operations by 2045. ADNOC's Habshan and Ghasha Concession projects, each with capacity of 1.5 MtCO2/yr, are currently under construction.

Saudi Arabia aims to capture and store 44 MtCO2/ yr by 2035 and launched a domestic carbon crediting scheme in 2024. A CCS hub is under construction at Jubail, which will store 9 MtCO2/yr by 2027 from natural gas processing and industrial sources in an onshore saline aquifer.

Oman aims to utilise its pipeline infrastructure for hydrogen and CO2 transport in new CCS and EOR projects.

Direct air capture (DAC) projects are emerging in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman, often combined with CO2 mineralisation or sustainable aviation fuel production.

In 2024, the world’s top 10 solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturers shipped a record 500 gigawatts (GW) of modules, nearly doubling the previous year’s volume, according to Wood Mackenzie’s Global Solar Module Manufacturer Rankings 2025 report.

Despite this milestone, the industry faced significant financial strain, with leading players reporting collective losses of US$4bn due to declining revenues and aggressive pricing.

For the Middle East, however, the report highlights a strategic pivot as manufacturers target the region for expansion to navigate global trade challenges and tap into growing demand.

The Middle East is becoming a critical growth frontier for solar PV manufacturers.

Wood Mackenzie notes that several top 20 manufacturers are planning to establish production facilities in Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

This move is driven by the need to diversify geographically amid rising trade tensions and market barriers globally.

“Establishing production in the Middle East allows manufacturers to bypass tariffs, meet local content mandates, and capitalise on the region’s increasing solar adoption,” said Yana Hryshko, head of global solar supply chain at Wood Mackenzie. “It’s a strategic play to remain competitive in a fragmented global market.”

The push into the Middle East aligns with the region’s ambitious renewable energy targets, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where solar projects are scaling rapidly.

By setting up local production, manufacturers aim to secure a foothold in these high-growth markets while mitigating risks from import restrictions and trade policies elsewhere.

Top manufacturers leading the charge

The 2024 rankings, led by Jinko Solar (90.6/100), JA Solar (89.8), and LONGi Green Energy (86.5), reflect the dominance of Chinese manufacturers, but the report underscores the growing geographic diversification of production.

Seven of the top 10 manufacturers now operate facilities in three or more countries, with the Middle East emerging as a key focus alongside regions like Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Mexico, and Vietnam.

The top 10 manufacturers maintained a robust average utilisation rate of 69%, showcasing operational resilience despite market pressures.

Their focus on the Middle East is expected to strengthen supply chains tailored to regional needs, particularly as demand for high-efficiency N-type modules grows.

The industry’s shift to N-type modules, which accounted for over 87% of Jinko Solar’s shipments, is particularly relevant for the Middle East, where high-efficiency technologies like TOPCon (24%+ efficiency) and heterojunction (HJT, 24%) are well-suited to the region’s harsh climatic conditions.

Additionally, top manufacturers are pursuing vertical integration, with investments in wafer production to control costs and quality—an advantage for establishing cost-competitive operations in the Middle East.

As solar PV module prices remain under pressure, the Middle East offers a strategic opportunity for manufacturers to balance cost reduction with market expansion.

The region’s growing solar market, supportive policies, and strategic location make it a pivotal hub for the industry’s next growth cycle.

“Despite financial challenges, the solar industry is repositioning for global growth, with the Middle East playing a central role,” Hryshko concluded. “Technology leadership, supply chain control, and regional agility will define success in this dynamic market.”

Internationally, the nuclear renaissance is gaining momentum. (Image source: Alain Charles Publishing)

The UAE has emerged as a global leader in nuclear energy deployment, showcasing a remarkable journey of strategic vision, technological innovation, and commitment to sustainable development.

This success was highlighted at a panel discussion during the World Utilities Congress, held in Abu Dhabi.

Mohammed Al Braiki, general manager, ENEC consulting vice president, ENEC Strategy, emphasised the country's transformative approach. 

"We were ambitious, bold, and committed," he stated, reflecting on the nation's nuclear journey that began in 2009. 

The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant now supplies 25% of the UAE's electricity, avoiding 22.4 million tons of CO₂ emissions, which is equivalent to taking four million cars off the road.

What sets the UAE's approach apart is its comprehensive strategy. The country has not just built nuclear infrastructure but created an entire ecosystem around it. "We invested a lot in outreach programs," Al Braiki explained, highlighting their commitment to public education and acceptance. Remarkably, the program maintains an 85% public acceptance rate, a testament to transparent communication and strategic implementation.

The global nuclear landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. Dr. Sama Bilbao y León, director general of the World Nuclear Association, noted the industry's newfound pragmatism. "It's simply not possible to reach Paris Agreement goals, energy security, and economic development without nuclear energy," she emphasised.

The timing couldn't be more critical. With the rising demands of artificial intelligence and data centers, nuclear energy is becoming increasingly attractive. Mohammed Al Braiki shared a striking projection: data center power consumption could grow from 2.5% of global power in 2025 to 8% by 2035, creating an unprecedented need for stable, clean energy sources.

The UAE's success extends beyond electricity generation. The nuclear program has created a robust industrial ecosystem, with $4.9 billion localised in supply chains. Companies are now exporting expertise and components to nuclear projects in the UK, Korea, and beyond.

Internationally, the nuclear renaissance is gaining momentum. Thirty-one nations have pledged to triple nuclear capacity, with 14 major banks committing to support this expansion. 

Dr. Bilbao y León captured the essence of this transformation. "We are not just building power plants; we are creating an entire ecosystem of clean energy professionals," she said.

Other perspectives

Karim Amin, board member, Siemens Energy, said, "Nuclear energy is not a stop and go technology. We need to show it's not just a technology, but an important pillar for climate resilience, energy sovereignty, and economic development. If we communicate properly, we will find traction with the younger generation."

Neil Wilmshurst is SVP, Chief Nuclear Strategy Officer and MD of EPRI Gulf, along with being chair - U.S. Member Committee, World Energy Council. 

"We need to change how we communicate about nuclear energy - stop apologising and start leading with its benefits. The dream is to have common codes and standards across the world, which would rationalise components and make supply chain management more efficient," he said. 

Loyiso Tyabashe, group CEO South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), said, "The nuclear industry has been very good at talking to itself, and it's time to broaden the conversation. Advocacy is crucial, where we show the pros and cons of the technology, just like any other technology. We need to engage academia, industries, and influential community members to change perceptions."