Ma’aden, the largest multi-commodity mining and metals firm in the Middle East, and GlassPoint, a leader in decarbonizing industrial process heat, announced their joint initiative to build a Technology Showcase during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Technology Showcase marks the inaugural phase of the world’s largest industrial solar thermal project, aiming to supply nine tons of steam per hour and initiate the decarbonization of Ma’aden’s aluminum supply chain.

Robert Wilt, CEO of Ma’aden, emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating, “Ma’aden is taking action today to help the Kingdom achieve its net zero target by 2060. Our Technology Showcase with GlassPoint represents an important step toward large-scale decarbonization that will firmly position Ma’aden as a sustainable industrial leader and support the continued advancement of important climate goals.”

The Technology Showcase integrates direct heat generation and storage to provide a continuous base load of steam to Ma’aden’s Alumina refinery at Ras al Khair. Initially, the capacity will be about 1% of the larger project, slated to save over 12M MMBTUs of energy annually and reduce carbon emissions by 600,000 tons per year.

Rod MacGregor, GlassPoint Founder, and CEO highlighted the urgency of global action, stating, “Governments have agreed that we must act now to scale renewables and transition away from fossil fuels to stop climate change. Our Technology Showcase is an important first step to kick off project development and begin building on location. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to stand out as a leader in decarbonization, setting ambitious climate goals and developing the projects to fulfill them.”

The Technology Showcase aligns with the growing demand for low-carbon aluminum, which commands a premium among industrial companies striving to meet sustainability requirements. Furthermore, the project responds to evolving policies such as the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism, which incentivizes low-carbon aluminum imports.

GlassPoint’s advancements incorporated into the Technology Showcase, including the Unify storage system and lighter materials, are poised to reduce costs by more than 30%. The project also follows GlassPoint’s recent collaboration announcement with the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia to establish a solar manufacturing facility, serving as a regional export hub for clean energy projects. This strategic initiative positions Ma’aden and GlassPoint at the forefront of sustainable industrial innovation, contributing significantly to global climate goals.