DISTRICT COOLING-

Qatar Cool eyes cooling projects in the Philippines: Qatar’s largest cooling firm Qatar Cool (QC) is looking to establish district or township cooling systems in the Philippines, according to a statement. The statement came on the sidelines of a meeting between CEO of QC Yasser Al Jaidah and Mohannad Khader with Filipino Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual. During the talks, Pascual also tried to bring the pair’s attention to locations outside of the capital region of Metro Manila. QC first took a look at potential project sites in March, which DTI said could qualify for fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

QC is invested in district cooling: QC joined the Dubai-based District Cooling Operators Association in December. The association explores how the industry can protect natural resources, reduce its carbon footprint, and increase efficiency.

eVTOLs-

UAE’s GCAA partners with Skyports to enhance air mobility standards: The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) inked an MoU with the UK’s Skyports Infrastructure to enhance regulations for clean energy powered vertiports in the UAE, according to a statement released on Thursday. The agreement aims to develop standards for hybrid vertiport operations, maximize the use of existing infrastructure, and advance the UAE’s adoption of air mobility. Building on the world's first national regulation (pdf) for vertiports published by the GCAA in 2023, the MoU seeks to integrate emerging technologies into the aviation sector.

BACKGROUND- The GCAA granted operational approval to Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Abu Dhabi Mobility (AD Mobility) to launch the country’s inaugural vertiport — a micro-scale airport designed for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts last month. AD Mobility — which represents Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport — is set to regulate the advanced air mobility sector in Abu Dhabi by working in conjunction with GCAA. The GCAA plans to launch air taxis by 1Q 2026.

STARTUP WATCH-

Emirati cleantech startup A1rwater also raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Abu Dhabi-based venture capital firm Tau Capital, it said in a statement on Thursday. The startup will use the funds to scale manufacturing, infrastructure, and distribution, focusing on large commercial and industrial atmospheric water generation facilities.

About A1rwater: Founded in 2018, the startup offers global air-to-water technology to a client base including Hilton Hotel Group, Accor Group, Saudi Arabia’s Neom, and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

GREEN POLICY-

KSA launches marine ecosystem protection project: Saudi Arabia has launched a project to develop a framework for protecting Arabian Gulf marine ecosystems, according to a Thursday statement. The Saudi National Center for Wildlife will study the health of coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests to determine and manage threats to their health and to plan methods of conservation and restoration.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• Gulf Bank announces new sustainability strategy: Gulf Bank has launched its 2030 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, which covers adherence to sustainability and responsible business practices, reducing negative environmental impacts, monitoring progress, managing ESG risks, and encouraging stakeholder engagement. (Press release)
• QFZ + Evonik partner on sustainability solutions: The Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) and German specialty chemicals company Evonik have signed an MoU to explore investment options in sustainable energy solutions in Qatar. The potential investments could include a manufacturing facility in Qatar's Umm Alhoul free zone. The facility would cater to the oil, gas and other industrial processes sectors in the GCC and the Middle East as part of Evonik's strategy for green transformation. (The Peninsula)