Global safety science organization (UL) has announced a joint venture with Saudi-based GCC Lab aimed at strengthening the Middle East’s Renewable Energy Infrastructure.

UL’s regional base operates out of offices in Dubai and its new, state-of-the-art lab facility in Abu Dhabi. The joint venture will operate as a UL and GCC Lab Company and will be based in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to cater to customers in parts of the Middle East, including Egypt.

The joint venture will support the region’s renewable energy market by leveraging both party’s resources, knowledge and experience and updating the certification requirements.

Moreover, the joint venture company will offer a variety of services related to the renewable industry, such as pre-commissioning tests, construction monitoring services and product testing of solar PV modules, including accessories that comply with applicable standards including UL and IEC standards.

The partnership will also aim to capitalize on UL’s reputation as a leading safety science company in the region and on GCC Lab’s strength and mandate as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative to diversify its economy.

Hamid Syed, VP & GM, UL Middle East, said: "This agreement represents each organization’s strong commitment to providing customers with all services related to renewables to meet the varied climate of the region.

We are delighted to support its aggressive renewable targets by offering a complete range of services via the new joint venture company and we are excited about developing new relationships through the extended client base."

The GCC Lab is a closed joint stock company that was formed by a select group of prime governmental and commercial entities in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Its mandate is to provide testing, inspection, and certification services for electrical equipment.

Saleh Amri, CEO of GCC Lab, said: "This partnership combines UL’s safety science knowledge, expertise and global resources with the GCC Lab’s knowledge of local market needs and goals - laying the groundwork for improvements and updated certifications in the region’s renewable energy market.

It is a significant step in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and GCC countries vision and will contribute significantly towards localizing manufacturing and services, fostering a knowledge-based economy, energy sustainability, and competitiveness, supporting research, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting alternative energy applications suitable for the climatic conditions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries."

The Middle East markets to be served by the joint venture all have ambitious renewable targets with substantial growth expected over the next several years. It is anticipated that the joint venture will be well positioned to support those targets in the years to come.