Government of Ontario transport agency, Metrolinx, has appointed AECOM to work on the Hamilton Light Rail Transit project. AECOM said its integrated team will be supporting Metrolinx on the delivery of the “full breadth of infrastructure” for the Hamilton LRT.

The 14km transit line is to be located within Hamilton Ontario and will operate along Main Street, King Street and Kingston Road, and will be the city’s first light rail transit system. It will be designed to accommodate expected future growth and development, improve connectivity and attract economic development in the rapidly growing area.

The LRT is designed to provide connectivity across Hamilton, with new light rail vehicles running along dedicated track.

“As Ontario advances its record investment in public transit, we look forward to working with Metrolinx and our partners to support a more connected and economically vibrant Hamilton through accessible and sustainable transportation. AECOM has played a critical role in light rail projects across Ontario and Canada, and our teams are excited to deploy their depth of experience and local expertise to deliver this transformative project,” stated Richard Barrett, Chief Executive of AECOM’s Canada region.

The project was originally funded by the Province of Ontario in 2015 but was then cancelled in 2019 due to rising costs. In 2021, the province is said to have recommitted to the project, subject to additional funding from the Canadian federal government.

In May 2023, Metrolinx appointed engineering consultancy ARUP as technical advisor on its GO Expansion programme across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

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An agreement has been signed by RB Rail AS, which will bring an additional US $1.2bn in funding from the European Cohesion Fund, for the planned high-speed Rail Baltic link across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The new financing will support several important Rail Baltica sub-projects in Estonia, including the underpinning of the line, construction of road crossings, and other infrastructure. The financing is in addition to the existing co-financing support from the three countries.

According to a report, the funding will be allocated for various stretches in Northern Estonia, such as Loone to Alu in Rapla County, the area between the Harju/Rapla county line and Loone, and crossings at Alu, Parila (Harju County) and Juula (Rapla County). With regards to Latvia, the funds will be leveraged for the construction of a new station in Riga, as well as for the development of infrastructure near Riga airport.

Lastly, in Lithuania, the funds will be used for improving the infrastructure, with the railway line passing through the more central location of Kaunas instead of Vilnius.

An updated cost-effectiveness analysis is said to be scheduled for the end of 2024, to reassess the project’s socio-economic benefits, secure additional financing, and optimise implementation.

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Daymion Jenkins has been appointed as Director in the Earth & Environment practice within the regional Advisory Services business at WSP Middle East, the company has announced. The move is said to build on the firm’s expansion and diversification of environmental consultancy offerings in the region.

According to a statement, Daymion brings a wealth of experience to further reinforce WSP’s footprint in the field of environmental services. Having moved to the region from WSP UK, where he led a large team working across a range of geoscience and environment management sectors, he aims to bring global expertise to the local markets in which WSP operates.

He will support core services and diversification, helping to further grow the Middle East Earth & Environment capability in line with WSP’s global Earth and Environment capability and structures. In addition, Daymion will also be expanding expertise in ground sciences and water quality management to development projects where water resource protection is a key concern, the statement added.

“I’m very excited to be joining WSP in the Middle East at such a pivotal evolution in the Earth & Environment practice and I am looking forward to supporting the team across the region, leveraging my links with WSP’s global environmental networks to support local delivery. This is a key stage for growing the regional team and our capability to provide clients the full range of environmental services and support from design through to construction delivery,” noted Jenkins.

The firm said that it was named as a ‘prominent leader’ in the Climate Change Consultancy realm following a study conducted by independent research firm Verdantix.

May Faraj, Senior Director, Earth & Environment commented, “I’m thrilled to have Daymion join our team, as he brings a unique blend of global experience to complement our regional practice. His expertise perfectly aligns with our growth & expansion goals. He will build on our reputation of delivering multidisciplinary, integrated solutions that meet our clients’ needs, and drive positive outcomes.”

As part of its commitment to the region, the firm said it plans to continue investing in talent who will enable it to continue focusing on delivering value and driving innovation. Guided by the One WSP approach, the firm will leverage its diverse expertise and capabilities to create integrated solutions that deliver lasting impact.

Kathleen McGrail, Managing Director, Advisory Services concluded, “Daymion brings decades of international leadership experience and technical expertise to our Middle East Earth & Environment team. I am confident that he will be instrumental in our continued drive for growth, with a particular focus on launching new services in our core markets, KSA and the UAE.”

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SEE Holding has consolidated its divisions in order to solidify its business structure and further its commitment to a Net Zero future.

Eng. Faris Saeed, Chairman & CEO of SEE Holding said, “The consolidation of our portfolio of companies into one sustainability-focused global holding group is an important milestone. At SEE Holding, we don’t want to just reduce our emissions; we want to create opportunities for others to do the same. And while we remain dedicated to contributing to the UAE’s sustainability agenda, our vision extends beyond borders to achieve a global impact in spearheading a Net Zero emissions future to achieve the 2050 targets today and contribute to the United Nations SDGs.”

“This isn’t just business growth; it’s the growth of a promise – a commitment to forging a world where humanity and nature thrive in harmonious coexistence, paving the way to a safer and more prosperous world for our children and future generations,” he added.

The See Holding group includes companies such as The Sustainable City (TSC), Diamond Developers, City Solar, and Tadweer, alongside other revenue-generating companies focused on designing, investing in, and building sustainable infrastructure and cities to advance the UN 2050 Net Zero emissions targets.

Salah Habib, Deputy CEO of SEE Holding, and CEO of SEE Developers commented, “As a fully integrated, sustainable holding group, SEE Holding is well-positioned with the right capabilities, knowledge, and experience to accelerate climate action. This consolidation allows us to streamline our processes and deliver on our promises more effectively, driving both our business growth and impact across social, environmental, and economic sustainability. While we are committed to reducing emissions, we are equally passionate about creating substantial economic opportunities around the world and empowering partners on the global journey towards Net Zero.”

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Khansaheb Civil Engineering has said it has become the first contractor in the Middle East to use a battery energy storage system (BESS) to power large construction equipment. Describing the rollout as a sustainability milestone, the firm notes that the move to deploy lithium-ion battery solutions will ‘vastly reduce carbon emissions’.

The firm said that it partnered with AJI Rentals to use Ampd Energy’s ‘Enertainer’ to power two tower cranes on its flagship project, Serenia Living on the Palm Jumeirah.  The Enertainer is said to be a plug-and-play solution, which electrifies construction power generation, and offers a seamless, quiet, and fully automated energy supply, facilitating the construction industry’s shift away from fossil fuels.

By reducing the use of traditional diesel generators, Khansaheb is reducing the comparative carbon footprint by up to 85%, utilising a system that operates at a noise level 30 times quieter, emits minimal diesel fumes, and reduces risks related to diesel handling. The firm noted that the two deployed Enertainer solutions will reduce carbon emissions by a predicted 128t over a 12-month period.

“At Khansaheb we have been implementing our ‘SustainAbility’ agenda since 2013 and this has enabled us to drive down fuel consumption, energy consumption, water consumption and reduce waste across our business, year on year. This has in turn reduced our costs and these benefits have been passed on to our customers, delivering a more sustainable construction process in line with the national Sustainability Agenda,” explained Steve Flint, Managing Director of Khansaheb Civil Engineering.

In addition to reduced requirements for maintenance and refuelling, the BESS is billed as an economically intelligent option for operations. As an IoT-enabled device, it offers the added benefit of remote monitoring, providing a comprehensive level of data transparency, invaluable for data-driven decision-making.

Flint added, “We promote innovative solutions that aid us in our sustainability journey. Our commitment to integrating zero emission technology, such as Ampd Energy’s Enertainer into our construction operations will further reduce a significant amount of emissions and minimise our carbon footprint, while helping us provide a more sustainable solution to meeting our customers’ needs. We hope to adopt this technology on all future projects.”

Hannes Van Graan, Regional Operation Manager at AJI Rentals commented, “We have made a concerted effort to introduce equipment and solutions into our rental fleet, which is enabling the move to a more sustainable construction industry, a reality. Khansaheb has embraced and implemented Ampd Energy’s Enertainer with absolutely no hesitation, and we are excited to support them in their current and future projects.”

Earlier this year, Khansaheb announced that it was appointed the main contractor by Palma Development for its luxury beachfront project, Serenia Living. The project is due to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025, the statement noted.

“Partners like Khansaheb and AJI Rentals inspire us with their proactive commitment to innovation and sustainability. We’re so glad to see the first Enertainer in the GCC deployed on a Khansaheb site through AJI Rentals. We are proud of the emissions reductions being achieved at the Serenia Living site and how it is supporting Khansaheb’s environmental agenda. We look forward to extending the benefits of this technology to future assignments,” concluded Rafat Award, Country Manager GCC at Ampd Energy.

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Fernando Gonzalez has been appointed as the President of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). The organisation’s various members have committed to achieving Net Zero’ concrete by 2050.

Following his appointment, Gonzalez called for the industry and governments around the world to establish a ‘robust regulatory framework’ that can further accelerate the cement and concrete sector’s decarbonisation efforts. He has been GCCA Vice President since 2018 and succeeds the outgoing President, Jan Jenisch, whose term of office now ends after two years.

Gonzalez’s priorities include phasing out fossil fuels, promoting the use of alternative fuels by encouraging regulation to divert societal waste from landfill to cement kilns, and enacting policies to accelerate the extensive adoption of low-carbon construction products. He also noted that market-driven carbon pricing mechanisms around the world can incentivise the industry to decarbonise and further develop technology focused on reducing emissions.

“As an industry, we’ve gone beyond the commitment phase to taking decisive action today to reduce our CO2 emissions,” stated Gonzalez.

“While we are making important progress today on our 2030 goals, we currently have the opportunity to accelerate even more the pace of our industry’s decarbonisation, if we can achieve the right regulatory policies and support from governments around the world. That’s why my number one priority, as the new President of the GCCA, is to collaborate closely with governments and industry to facilitate our roadmap levers,” he concluded.

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Abu Dhabi-based Miral has signed an agreement with Emerge, a joint venture (JV) between the UAE’s Masdar and France’s EDF, to develop a 524-kilowatt peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Yas Bay Waterfront. The project is designed to offset 450t of CO2 emissions per year.

The new solar project will feature the installation of 920 solar modules at Yas Bay waterfront, providing sustainable energy support, with Emerge delivering a comprehensive turnkey solution, including finance, design, procurement, construction, operations, and maintenance of the solar modules for a duration of 30 years.

This marks the third collaboration between Miral and Emerge, and the second this year – in March, Miral Group inaugurated Abu Dhabi’s largest solar rooftop project at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. The green energy project incorporated approximately 16,000 solar modules across the theme park’s roof area of 36,000sqm, producing nearly 40% of its annual energy demand and holding an impressive 7-megawatt peak (MWp) capacity.

In 2022, Miral and Emerge also signed an agreement to deploy on-site solar energy systems at the SeaWorld Abu Dhabi theme park with a capacity of 8.4 megawatts (MW).

“We are delighted to join forces with Emerge once again to implement this innovative solar project at Yas Bay, as part of our commitment to the UAE’s strategic initiative to achieve Net Zero by 2050. This project will set a benchmark in supplying clean energy to power Yas Bay and further position Yas Island as a top global destination. Guided by an unwavering commitment to sustainability, this partnership represents our dedication to prioritising sustainable practices and incorporating renewable energy elements across our destinations,” stated Jonathan Brown, Chief Portfolio Officer, Miral.

Emerge was formed in 2021 to develop distributed solar, energy efficiency, street lighting, battery storage, off-grid solar, and hybrid solutions for commercial and industrial clients. As an energy services company, Emerge offers clients full turn-key supply and demand-side energy management solutions through solar power agreements and energy performance contracting at no up-front cost to the client.

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In 2022, the UAE successfully attracted nearly US $36bn in foreign direct investment (FDI) for renewable energy projects at the planning stage. Official sources estimate that the nation is now the world’s fourth-largest recipient of funding for greenfield projects. This sum would also rank the nation as the 31st largest recipient of FDI of any kind.

Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), said that investors from over 170 countries had chosen the UAE to invest, grow, and expand over the past decade, reaffirming the trust of the global investment community in the country’s strong fundamentals and positive outlook.

Addressing the gathering at the 8th World Investment Forum (WIF), he reiterated the UAE’s commitment to fostering collaboration, strengthening economic partnerships, and tackling the pressing global challenges of our era. He explained, “The UAE’s dedication to building bridges between nations and fostering economic relationships is set to unlock a world of opportunities. As a global hub for business and finance, the UAE has also made bilateral trade agreements, cementing our reputation as a reliable partner for international trade and cooperation.

He added, “We are now the world’s fourth-largest recipient of greenfield projects, with nearly a thousand ambitious ventures announced last year.”

Al Zaabi pointed out that the UAE was one of the world’s most active nations investing overseas, helping growth across 122 countries and 35 diverse sectors over the past five years.

“Our commitment to sustainable development is clearly demonstrated by substantial investments of nearly $45 billion in renewable energy. In 2022, the UAE FDI outflows dedicated nearly $36 billion to renewable energy projects,” he concluded.

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Five new data centres will be developed at a cost of US $3.5bn according to Amazon. The firm said that the data centres will be built in New Albany, Ohio in the United States.

Construction is expected to begin in 2025 on the data centres and supported buildings, with handovers expected to be in 2030.

According to Amazon, the investment is just the initial component of a $7.8bn commitment to expand data centers in the state, which was first announced by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted earlier this year.

The Columbus area is said to now have 40 data centers operated by 25 companies, according to a Baxtel study cited in the Columbus Dispatch.

The agreement follows Google’s recent announcement last month of a planned US$1.7 billion expansion of its three data centers in New Albany.

According to the report by Grand View Research, the growth in the data centre market is being driven by the rising demand for data storage and processing capabilities, and the increased use of big data analytics.

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