Advanced Power and Energy Center to Lead Study on Deploying Magaldi’s Green Thermal Energy Storage and Power-to-Heat Technology across UAE Industrial and Utility Sectors
Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced its Advanced Power and Energy Center (APEC) has signed an agreement with Magaldi Power S.p.A., an Italian engineering company and a recognized leader in thermal energy storage, to explore the application of Magaldi’s proprietary clean energy technologies in the UAE.
The consultancy service agreement was signed by H.E. Prof. Ebrahim Al Hajri, President, Khalifa University, and Mario Magaldi, President, and Raffaello Magaldi, Managing Director of Global Operations, Magaldi Power S.p.A. The collaboration positions the University as a strategic partner in Magaldi’s international expansion into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, leveraging APEC’s deep research expertise and extensive networks with UAE utilities, government entities, and industrial stakeholders.
APEC will lead a comprehensive feasibility study to identify and evaluate potential deployment pathways for the Magaldi Green Thermal Energy Storage and Power-to-Heat technology within the UAE and across the GCC region. The study will assess specific industrial applications including decarbonization of steel and aluminum production cycles, brine recovery and magnesium extraction from concentrated saline water, and grid services and co-generation systems in support of UAE energy utilities.
H.E. Prof. Ebrahim Al Hajri said: “This agreement reflects Khalifa University’s consistent commitment to translating world-class research into real-world impact for the UAE. Thermal energy storage is one of the most promising technologies for accelerating the country’s clean energy transition, and this collaboration with Magaldi Power brings together the scientific depth of APEC with proven industrial expertise to explore its scalability at deployment in this region. The UAE’s ambitions in renewable energy and industrial decarbonization make this the kind of partnership that can deliver meaningful change.”
Paolo Magaldi, CEO of Magaldi Group, said: “Our partnership with Khalifa University marks a significant step in our international growth strategy and reinforces Magaldi’s commitment to enabling the energy transition in high-impact industrial sectors. The UAE represents a highly dynamic environment for clean energy innovation, and through this collaboration we aim to demonstrate how our thermal energy storage system can support industrial decarbonization, enhance grid flexibility, and enable new pathways for sustainable energy use across the region.”
Thermal energy storage technology enables the capture and storage of heat at high temperatures and its release on demand, providing flexible, dispatchable clean energy. This capability is particularly relevant to the UAE’s growing renewable energy base, where managing the variability of solar and wind generation remains a critical challenge. By decoupling energy generation from consumption, TES systems support grid stability, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and enable decarbonization across a wide range of industrial processes.
The initiative is grounded in both scientific rigor and industrial expertise led by Eng. Raffaello Magaldi, President, Magaldi Power S.p.A, Eng. Massimiliano Masi, General Manager, Magaldi Middle East, and Eng. Fulvio Bassetti, Technology & Energy Market Director, Magaldi Green Energy. The joint team includes Prof. Ahmed Al Durra, Associate Provost for Research, Khalifa University, Prof. Ehab El-Sadaany, Dean, Engineering and Physical Sciences, Prof. Mohamed El Moursi, Center Director, APEC, and Prof. Massimo de Falco, University of Naples, for APEC. Also involved are Prof. Hatem Zein El Din, Chair, Electrical Engineering, Prof. Vinod Khadkikar, Electrical Engineering, and Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Ali, Associate Professor, Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering.
Alisha Roy
Science Writer
