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29 March 2024

Dubai's energy growth set to be 4-5% by 2030

Published
By Wam

Sustainability has become the main concern worldwide due to the adverse impact of climate change, a top Dubai official has acknowledged.

 ''The long-term national initiative to build green economy in the UAE under the slogan "A green economy for sustainable development", recently launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aims to make UAE one of the world leaders as well as a centre for the export and re-export of green products and technologies, and to maintain a sustainable environment to support long-term economic growth,'' Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer,Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, told a roundtable centering on the UAE s Green Economy Initiative as part of the World Energy Forum 2012.

The initiative, he added, includes a range of programs and policies in the areas of energy, agriculture, investment and sustainable transport in addition to new environmental construction policies that aim to raise the quality of life in the country. This new initiative is fully in line with Dubai's Strategic Plan's focus on sustainable development, environmental stewardship and meeting stakeholders expectations.

''It is now five years since the launch of Dubai's Sustainability drive, marked by Sheikh Mohammed's declaration of the Green Buildings initiative on October 24, 2007. This initiative is rooted in the belief that resource efficiency in general, energy and water in particular, is no longer an option. The Green Building Regulations and Specifications were issued in 2010.

''Now turning our attention to Dubai's Supreme Council of Energy, as an independent formal governing entity, seeks to ensure sustainable energy resources for the Emirate's growing economy at a reasonable cost, and reduce and mitigate any negative impact on the environment. In that legal framework, the Council governs all the activities related to the Energy sector in the Emirate of Dubai, including energy efficiency and resources management.

In 2010, he indicated, the Council developed Dubai's Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 and started implementation in January 2011. This Strategy is driven by our Vision to make Dubai a role model to the world in energy security and efficiency. Accordingly, the Mission is to support Dubai's economic growth, through diverse and secure Energy supply and Efficient Energy use, while meeting environmental and sustainability objectives.

''By 2030, Dubai's average energy growth is projected to be in the range of 4-5% per annum, and our target is to reduce Energy consumption by 30% through the implementation of enhanced Energy Efficient initiatives and, by the same token, to significantly reduce the emissions of CO2,'' he said..

Currently, he explained, the combined power generation and desalinated water production in Dubai are most efficiently produced using natural gas and LNG as the primary fuel (99%) and supplemented by liquid fuel- Diesel oil as a secondary fuel (1%). Dubai will diversify its fuel mix by adding new capacity as "Clean coal" power generation (12%), plus 5% Renewable - Solar, 12% Nuclear and 71% Gas by year 2030.

''Solar Power is the most significant and strategic renewable resource in UAE. Dubai has ongoing plans to build Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Solar Park of a 1000MW capacity by 2030, which upon completion will be one of the biggest solar parks in the region, and possibly beyond. This will make substantial contribution to Dubai's future energy needs. The first phase of 10MW solar PV plant will be in operation before end of year 2013.

''In addition, we have identified that distributed rooftop solar power sources can make a practical contribution to Dubai's power needs in the order of 20% or around 2,500 MW by 2030. Technical, commercial and legal frameworks are currently being put in place to facilitate the integration of solar power.

''As it can be seen, the implementation of Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 will create business opportunities in both supply and demand side management, thereby enhancing the green economy.

In 2011, we established the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (DCCE) in cooperation with UNDP in order to capture and implement CO2 emission reduction Projects, the objective being to achieve a cleaner environment. A regulatory body has been created in 2011. The Regulatory '&' Supervisory Bureau (RSB) is initially focusing on power and water privatization.

''In few words, our aim is to ensure the provision of Energy, while preserving the environment and resources, as well as to ensure sustainability. All required strategies, policies and regulatory framework are in place,'' he concluded.