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Masdar Accelerates U.S. Renewables Expansion, Closes Acquisition of 50% Stake in Terra-Gen

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Masdar’s joint ownership of Terra-Gen demonstrates long-term commitment to investing in and supporting U.S. energy transitionTerra-Gen’s gross operating portfolio comprises 3.8GW of wind, solar and battery storage projects, including 5.1GWh of energy storage facilities across 30 renewable power sitesTerra-Gen’s 12GW+ pipeline includes new windfarm and new solar park to start commercial operations in 2025

ABU DHABI, UAE and NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar (“Masdar”), the United Arab Emirates’ clean energy powerhouse, today announced the closing of its acquisition of a 50 percent stake in Terra-Gen Power Holdings II, LLC (“Terra-Gen” or “the Company”), one of the largest independent renewable energy producers in the United States, from Energy Capital Partners (“ECP”).

ECP, one of the largest private investors in power and renewable assets in the United States, has fully exited its position in Terra-Gen in connection with the closing of the transaction. Igneo Infrastructure Partners (“Igneo”), a global infrastructure investment manager, retains its existing 50 percent stake in Terra-Gen.

Representing one of Masdar’s largest transactions, the deal further cements Masdar’s position in the U.S. Masdar first entered the market in 2019 and has a proven history of funding, developing, owning and operating clean energy projects in the country. Before the Terra-Gen acquisition, its U.S. portfolio of utility scale wind, solar and storage assets had a generating capacity of more than 1.4GW.  The U.S. market and Terra-Gen’s scalable platform will play important roles as Masdar executes its plan to build 100GW of capacity in its global renewable energy portfolio by 2030.

Terra-Gen’s gross operating portfolio currently comprises 3.8GW of wind, solar and battery storage projects, including 5.1GWh of energy storage facilities across 30 renewable power sites throughout the U.S., predominantly in California and Texas.

Terra-Gen is currently developing more than 12GW of wind, solar and battery storage projects in the U.S. Its development activities include projects in California, Texas and New York. The project pipeline includes 386MW of Texas wind and California solar, and 512MWh of California energy storage facilities, with commercial operations anticipated in 2025.

HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President and Chairman of Masdar, said: “The UAE and U.S. have long been partners in efforts to advance clean energy, a collaboration culminating in the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) agreement. Masdar has a strong track record of supporting U.S. renewable energy projects, and the acquisition of Terra-Gen reaffirms this long-standing commitment. We are now on target to surpass our goal of having 10GW of integrated renewable generation capacity in the U.S. by 2030. This transaction unlocks further economic opportunities from green growth, and aligns with the global ambition to triple renewable energy capacity, in line with the historic UAE Consensus reached at COP28.”

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said, “Terra-Gen’s experienced management team and scalable platform make it the ideal partner, as we work to increase our presence and investment in the U.S. as part of Masdar’s commitment to a long-term strategy in this important market. We look forward to partnering with Igneo to enhance Terra-Gen’s capabilities and position it as a leading developer, owner and operator of reliable and clean renewable energy in the U.S.”

Jim Pagano, CEO of Terra-Gen, said, “The finalization of this deal cements a strong relationship between Masdar and Terra-Gen. Masdar is a great partner for Terra-Gen because of our shared focus on developing clean energy projects and our commitment to decarbonization. We look forward to working with them to expand and build on our pipeline of U.S. projects.” 

Niall Mills, Managing Partner and Global Head of Igneo, said, “Terra-Gen has been a strong platform for Igneo in the U.S. since our investment in 2020.  We see tremendous potential to continue driving growth and creating long-term value in the U.S. renewable power sector through the capable and experienced team at Terra-Gen, and we look forward to partnering with Masdar on this exciting next phase of expansion.”  

Established in 2006, Masdar has a long-standing commitment to advancing renewable energy projects across the globe. The purchase of a 50% share in Terra-Gen represents another significant milestone as the company works to support the target set in the historic UAE Consensus to triple global renewables capacity by the end of this decade.

Masdar’s commitment to the U.S. market reflects the UAE’s strong ties to the country. In January 2023, UAE and U.S. officials announced that US$20 billion will be allocated to fund 15GW of clean energy projects in the U.S. before 2035, led by Masdar and a consortium of US private investors, under the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) between the two countries.

Transaction Advisors

Lazard and Guggenheim Securities are serving as financial advisors, and Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal advisor to Terra-Gen. BMO Capital Markets and JP Morgan are serving as financial advisors, and White & Case LLP and Covington & Burling LLP are serving as legal advisors to Masdar. Mayer Brown is serving as legal advisor to Igneo Infrastructure Partners.

About Masdar:
Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) is one of the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy companies. As a global clean energy pioneer, Masdar is advancing the development and deployment of solar, wind, geothermal, battery storage and green hydrogen technologies to accelerate the energy transition and help the world meet its net-zero ambitions. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed and invested in projects in over 40 countries with a combined capacity of over 20 gigawatts (GW), providing affordable clean energy access to those who need it most and helping to power a more sustainable future. Masdar is jointly owned by TAQA, ADNOC, and Mubadala, and is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of 100GW by 2030 while aiming to be a leading producer of green hydrogen by the same year.

For more information please visit: https://www.masdar.ae and connect: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar

About Terra-Gen: 
Terra-Gen, LLC is a leading U.S. developer, owner and operator of utility-scale renewable energy projects in North America. Terra-Gen’s gross operating portfolio comprises 3.8GW of wind, solar and battery storage projects, including 5.1GWh of energy storage facilities across 30 renewable power sites throughout the U.S., predominantly in California and Texas. Formed in 2007, Terra-Gen is owned by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar (“Masdar”), the United Arab Emirates’ clean energy powerhouse, and Igneo Infrastructure Partners, a leading global investment manager with US$19.5 billion in direct infrastructure assets. For more information, visit www.terra-gen.com.

About Igneo Infrastructure Partners:  
Igneo is an autonomous investment team in the First Sentier Investors Group. It invests in high-quality, mature, mid-market infrastructure companies in renewables, digital infrastructure, waste management, water utilities and transportation / logistics sectors in North America, the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Operating since 1994, the team works closely with portfolio companies to create long-term sustainable value through innovation, a focus on responsible and proactive asset management. As of June 30, 2024, Igneo managed more than US$19.2 billion in assets for 200 investors around the world. For more information visit igneoip.com.

About ECP:

Energy Capital Partners (ECP), founded in 2005, is a leading equity and credit investor across energy transition, electrification and decarbonization infrastructure assets. The ECP team, comprised of 90 people with 800 years of collective industry experience, deep expertise and extensive relationships, has consummated more than 100 equity (representing nearly US$60 billion of enterprise value) and over 20 credit transactions since inception. For more information, visit www.ecpgp.com.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2519833/Masdar.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2514011/MASDAR_Logo.jpg

 

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SOURCE Masdar

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CompTIA Spark introduces free high-quality technology curriculum for middle grade classrooms

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On World Teachers’ Day, the nonprofit organization highlights the importance of middle school teachers, empowers them to teach technology skills

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Oct. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Responding to a critical gap in technology education, CompTIA Spark has launched free technology curriculum specifically for middle grade classrooms, grades 5-8. It aims to support teachers so that they can teach the critical skills students need to succeed in whatever path they choose. The nonprofit organization worked with educators across the country to develop the curriculum.

“Getting this free resource into the hands of middle school teachers can help close the gap in technology education.”

“World Teachers’ Day celebrates how important teachers are,” says Randi Parker, chief of staff and vice president of CompTIA Spark. “And we know that middle school teachers in particular play such an important role in a student’s journey which is why they are the key to bringing technology education to more schools. We could not have developed this curriculum without them, and we can’t reach students without them.”

For about the past year, school districts as well as individual teachers have been implementing the CompTIA Spark curriculum in middle grade classrooms and providing feedback that allowed for a testing and development period prior to the full-scale launch. The schools that participated in this phase ranged from award-winning STEM schools to less-resourced ones, with all types of schools reporting the curriculum was a success and that students were engaged and excited to learn.

Getting students excited about technology and growing their confidence with hands-on learning is critical at the middle school level. Without access to quality technology education, students fall behind before they reach high school which means they do not have the digital fluency needed to succeed in school and in life. Filling this critical gap is the mission of CompTIA Spark.

With the new free curriculum, teachers can guide middle grade students through engaging project-based lessons that build capability using common applications and 21st century skills. Students gain a solid foundation in key technology concepts to prepare them for future opportunities — in high school and beyond.

Delivered through an online learning platform, the curriculum sparks interest in technology and how it is used in a wide variety of careers. For example, the Tech Exploration units have interactive lessons that show how tech skills are used in roles like product design, market research, accounting, marketing and more. Meanwhile, the Emerging Tech units focus on artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and smart home technology. Full access to the curriculum is available to middle grade educators absolutely free — to empower more teachers to teach the subject, even if they have not taught it previously.

A recent special report from Education Week highlighted how schools have been “struggling to recruit and retain math and science teachers for decades,” let alone educators who can teach technology subjects. The report also stressed the fact that current teachers need to be given opportunities to be able to teach new subjects related to emerging fields and technologies — with this being a solution to tackling the shortage.

“Because of the way the curriculum is intentionally designed, we are able to take the burden off the teacher by providing high-quality technology curriculum that middle grade teachers can use in their classroom regardless of their past experience with the subject,” says Parker. “Getting this free resource into the hands of teachers can help close the gap in technology education that currently exists at the middle school level. CompTIA Spark curriculum is free, and always will be free, because it is a gift from the tech industry to future generations.”

Districts, schools and individual teachers are invited to explore the curriculum and get started at comptiaspark.org.

About CompTIA Spark

CompTIA Spark develops free high-quality technology curriculum for middle grade classrooms to close a critical gap in technology education that exists before high school. This work improves student outcomes and success, and helps ensure a diverse talent pipeline for the technology workforce. CompTIA Spark is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as the charitable arm of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), a leading voice and advocate for the global information technology ecosystem and a trusted provider of technical training and IT certifications. Learn more at comptiaspark.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Laura Perillo and/or Cristina De Guia
news@comptiaspark.org

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SOURCE CompTIA Spark

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SAUNEX Partners with Saudi SIIVC in Strategic EV Initiative

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The partnership will concentrate on the development and manufacturing of electric vehicles, enhancing industry capabilities

BANGKOK, Oct. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — UNEX of the Netherlands, a global leader in the research and development of electric vehicles (EVs), and Siam Racing Automobiles (SRA) of Thailand, a world-class automotive design and engineering firm, have announced that their joint venture, SAUNEX, has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia International Industrial Village (SIIVC). The alliance will establish a production facility for EVs in Saudi Arabia, aiming to extend their market reach across the Middle East, North Africa, and Southern Europe.

Chatchaval Jiaravanon, a member of the family that controls CP Group, addressed the audience at the signing ceremony. He highlighted the importance of automotive manufacturing as a benchmark of a nation’s industrial capabilities. Reflecting on CP Group’s past collaboration with China’s SAIC to set up a production facility for MG sports cars in Thailand, he noted that the success of automotive ventures relies critically on exemplary technology and leadership. The partnership between SAUNEX and SIIVC is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategic initiative, emphasizing sustainable collaboration in the development, production, and marketing of EVs. The goal is to drive significant progress in Saudi Arabia’s EV sector and position SAUNEX as a beacon of successful international cooperation between Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Jiaravanon also remarked that SAUNEX stands at the forefront of electric vehicle R&D, particularly in the application of battery swapping technology and the fields of automotive design and engineering. Their leading model, the Manto, is a luxury electric SUV that utilizes UNEX’s battery swapping technology, enhanced by SRA’s sophisticated design and engineering. It significantly outperforms competitors, offering a superior choice for future EVs free from the usual range limitations.

Top management executives from UNEX at the ceremony pointed out that under the leadership of Dr. Faisal Abdullah, CEO of SIIVC, the project aims to develop cutting-edge automotive production and battery swapping facilities in Saudi Arabia, manufacturing a full line-up of vehicle models including sedans, SUVs, and vans. The partnership also includes collaboration with CP Group and automotive supply chains in Thailand and China, aiming to create a sustainable and advanced industrial ecosystem that sets a global standard for the electric vehicle industry.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/saunex-partners-with-saudi-siivc-in-strategic-ev-initiative-302268179.html

SOURCE UNEX

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Israel Banned from UAE BioTech Symposium

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Israeli BioTech companies will not be permitted at the quarterly event with Roadshows throughout the Arab Gulf States, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia

In parallel, UAE BioTech Symposium has been dedicated to the memory of The Rockefeller University Nobel Laureate Professor Dr. Günter Blobel, MD. PhD., Founder of The Friends of Dresden.

ABU DHABI, UAE, Oct. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — “The board of AmCham Abu Dhabi mandated that Chinese and Russian companies are not allowed. As Founding Chairman of AmCham Abu Dhabi BioTech Committee & Chairman of UAE BioTech Symposium, I mandate that Israeli companies are not allowed, says Dr. Kambiz Shekdar, PhD.

Dr. Shekdar is Owner and Chairman of the quarterly UAE BioTech Symposium launching Nove 2-6, 2024 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE. Registration for UAE BioTech Symposium is hosted at AmCham Abu Dhabi. The detailed program is available at https://www.uaebiotechsymposium.com.

“I spent 8 years in the lab with Günter as my mentor. He would often talk about how his family was packed in a car, passing through Dresden escaping Nazi Germany when the fire bombing happened. I remember each time he remembered how he could read the pages of the newspaper by the light of the fire kilometers away. He donated his prize money to all three religions because he understood that peace is the fundament for achieving our human potential,” add Shekdar.

“I saw the firebombing destruction of Dresden from very near,” Blobel told The Times of Israel upon Dr. Blobel’s passing on February 18, 2018, “only a few kilometers away; for an 8 1/2-year-old, this was all very impressive. The bombing was so bright that you could read the newspaper by the red sky.”

Complete information about UAE BioTech Symposium is available at the Chairman’s personal portal at this link: https://linktr.ee/kambizshekdar

About UAE BioTech Symposium Chairman Dr. Kambiz Shekdar, PhD
From invention at The Rockefeller University to IPO at New York Stock Exchange to scale-up drug discovery for jointly owned Made-in-Abu-Dhabi IP in the U.A.E., Dr. Kambiz Shekdar is the first U.S. Biotech Abu Dhabi Golden Visa Inventor transitioning to the U.A.E.

Dr. Shekdar, PhD invented Chromovert® Technology while he was a graduate doctoral student in the laboratory of his mentor, the late Nobel laureate & King Faisal Prize winner Dr. Günter Blobel, MD, PhD. at The Rockefeller University in New York City. For more than 20 years, Dr. Shekdar has been pursuing applications of the same platform technology, now including pursuing the creation of a joint venture with Emirati stakeholders to implement the by-now validated research engine as part of a national-level public-private partnership for drug discovery at scale in the U.A.E. Dr. Shekdar is also a member of the Abu Dhabi, UAE chapter of American Chambers of Commerce where he is Founding Chairman of the AmCham Abu Dhabi BioTech Committee.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kambiz-shekdar-51a52a34/

About UAE BioTech Symposium
UAE BioTech Symposium in partnership with the AmCham Abu Dhabi BioTech Committee and Masdar City will host quarterly panel discussions and lab tours in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and roadshow destinations throughout the GCC and Middle East. The events are free with attendance limited to prioritize U.S. and international BioTech owners and executives. Program details will be posted online in Arabic and in English as registration for each event goes live via the AmCham Abu Dhabi website.

Arabic site for scientific program: http://www.uaebiotechsymposium.ae
English site for scientific program: https://www.uaebiotechsymposium.com

About AmCham BioTech Committee
The AmCham BioTech Committee was formed to establish a BioTech sector in Abu Dhabi with a focus on promoting opportunities for U.S. BioTech companies with a vision to be a thought leader and facilitator for U.S. corporate interests in the emerging BioTech sector in Abu Dhabi and throughout the Middle East. Since its founding, the BioTech committee has seen a notable uptick in interest from U.S.-based companies seeking to broaden their service offerings within the region. AmCham BioTech Committee founding members include Seconcell Bio, Intelligenix Advanced Diagnostics, Extend Biosciences, Halia Therapeutics and Jones Lang LaSalle Inc (JLL).
https://amchamabudhabi.org/biotech/

CONTACT: Kambiz Shekdar, +971585820175

 

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SOURCE Secondcell Bio, LLC; UAE BioTech Symposium

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