Dii Desert Energy news

Energy storage is emerging as a cornerstone in the global transition to net zero, particularly in regions like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) where renewable energy potential is vast.

The energy sector employs close to 70 million people, accounts for around 8-10% of global GDP and is one of the largest sectors overall. The urgent need to reduce emissions due to accelerating climate chaos is therefore impactful from a monetary and fiscal perspective. Investments need to be made in new infrastructure to produce green electrons and molecules, store them, and transport them from competitive locations to demand centres.

In the last newsletter, I emphasized that Dii is inherently optimistic about a ‘clean energy future’ in MENA and the world. However, much work remains to be done to make ‘clean,’ particularly ‘net zero,’ a reality. The good news is that the transformation implies virtually unlimited business opportunities for our industry group and the markets in general.

By Cornelius Matthes, CEO of Dii Desert Energy and the MENA Hydrogen Alliance An interesting situation is brewing on capital markets: we have seen the longest bull markets for equities in history (since March 2009!). Interest rates are still relatively low according to the long term average, but we are starting to observe anomalies, e.g. that at the start of April, bonds were falling during a period of correction in equities, which should usually be the opposite. Globalisation has been the top factor to reduce inflation over the past decades, and this, together with free trade is currently being challenged. The valuation of certain companies seems more dramatic than at the height of the dot.com bubble in year 2000. The geopolitical situation does not very positive either. It is difficult to say how long the party will continue, but always good to get prepared for different scenarios, with significant volatility ahead. And the USD just started a downward trend, reversing the period of appreciation since 2008 – this is expected to be a prolonged one with a possibly much larger shift away from the USD this time. In summary, interesting times ahead on capital markets, with significant implications for projects, similar to the massive interest rate increase during 2022 we have warned before as well. Just a few personal reflections as food for thought so that we don’t get too complacent.

The export of liquefied hydrogen is one of the most prominent features of the strategic transformation in the Sultanate of Oman, especially after it signed a historic agreement in April 2025 to develop the first global trade corridor for liquefied hydrogen.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a critical technology in the global energy transition towards achieving net-zero emissions. It plays a pivotal role in mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes and power generation, preventing them from entering the atmosphere.

Albert Einstein said that three forces rule the universe: fear, greed and stupidity. Observing the growing disconnect between people and their leaders, we see those forces at work. Most people in the world are really concerned about climate change, and that concern is growing.

As we continue our journey toward a climate-neutral, lowest-cost, and secure energy system in MENA, it is a pleasure to reflect on the tremendous progress being made by Dii’s industry network (now over 120 international companies). While we have faced numerous setbacks since our inception in 2009, I think our wonderful team, collective resilience and innovation power inspire continued optimism for the future.

Driven by recent geopolitical developments, the German parliament on 19th March probably had the most important vote since German reunification, also in an unprecedented step before the newly elected parliament will be convened (as two extremist parties will have a one third blocking minority).

I have spent my entire professional career on renewable energy and related things we now call energy transition, but I always had the nagging feeling that I never really understood energy storage.