Cambridge and Abu Dhabi, 8 December: UK climate leader Levidian and Tadweer (Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company) have today announced an agreement to tackle emissions from one of Abu Dhabi’s largest landfill sites.

The companies are working closely on a first-of-its-kind pilot to install Levidian’s LOOP technology, which will strip the carbon from gas produced by organic waste and store it in high-quality graphene, a material that is 200 times more resistant than steel. The device will also produce a hydrogen-rich blend gas that will be used to generate clean electricity on site.

It is estimated that the LOOP device will deliver a reduction in emissions of around 40% while supporting further upstream carbon savings through the addition of graphene to increase the performance of materials such as concrete, batteries and polymers. If successful, the pilot could be scaled up to strip the carbon from an estimated 1.2 billion cubic metres of landfill gas over the next 10 years.

This deal is part of Levidian’s expansion into the UAE, which was announced in November.

Eng. Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO of Tadweer, said: “The installation of decarbonisation technology is a critical part of our journey as we work towards our strategic vision for sustainable waste management. With COP28’s focus on the circular economy, it’s more important now than ever for Tadweer to become a leader in this area, alongside partners such as Levidian, as we create the foundations for a sustainable future.”

With 20% of global methane emissions coming from landfill waste, the effective management of global waste is set to play a pivotal role in achieving a circular economy.

John Hartley, CEO of Levidian said: “One of the biggest challenges in tackling emissions from landfill sites isn’t the technology, it’s the cost. The utilisation of Levidian’s LOOP technology will allow Tadweer to clean up emissions while creating a revenue stream from the production of hydrogen and graphene that will ensure that the project pays for itself.

“This project is so important because it demonstrates the full circularity of LOOP’s technology, whilst tackling one of the hardest to abate sectors globally. We are also delighted to be growing our partnerships in the UAE, as the region becomes ever more vital to reaching net zero worldwide.”