DEWA Organises Dubai Clean Energy Forum & Launches 1st Sustainability Report

Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) is organising the Dubai Clean Energy Forum with support from the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and in partnership with MEED. The Forum supports the long-term Green Economy for Sustainable Development national initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The Forum will promote the clean energy sector and related programmes, technologies, and investment opportunities to promote clean energy for sustainable development. A large number of national and international organisations and experts from the clean and renewable energy fields are participating in the Forum, which takes place from 22—24 September 2014 at the Address Dubai Mall hotel. DEWA is releasing its first Sustainability Report at the forum. The report highlights many of DEWA’s successes in performance through 10 action areas that cover economic development, environmental protection, stakeholders and community in the supply chain and operations, in addition to employees, customers, and other related areas. “DEWA is making every effort, guided by the wisdom of our leadership, to protect our environment and save our resources by keeping pace with international changes and developments in different environmental fields to achieve the environmental objectives of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and to fulfil the promise of His Highness to host the best Expo the world has ever seen, DEWA is working hard to achieve this by focusing on preparing a distinguished infrastructure for energy that meets all the requirements of Dubai’s sustainable development,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA in his keynote speech. “Today, Dubai is a pioneer in all areas of development. This has been enhanced by winning the bid to host Expo 2020. At DEWA, we seek to achieve a host of objectives, at the top of which are protecting the environment and its natural balance through a comprehensive and sustainable development for the benefit of future generations, enhancing the infrastructure and service utilities according to the highest international standards to meet the basic needs of citizens, residents, and businesses in the UAE, in line with efforts to promote the economy of the UAE to become a pioneering global hub for trade, finance, green economy, and sustainability,” added Al Tayer. “This Forum coincides with the start of the second project of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park which has a planned capacity of 100 megawatts and the Hassyan Clean Coal Power Project that will generate 1,200MW. The two projects are carried out in partnership with the private sector based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. The Dubai Clean Energy Forum allows participants from all over the world, and especially from the GCC, to learn about our strategic developmental projects and Dubai’s programmes to manage increasing energy demand, taking into consideration environmental aspects, by adopting green solutions and technologies to deal with environmental and climate issues and to combat global warming and reduce carbon dioxide emissions and environmental pollution,” added Al Tayer. “At DEWA, we adopt a clear vision to become a sustainable world-class utility where sustainability is an essential part of our vision and at the heart of our business strategy. It is included in everything we do and in the projects we implement. In this context, I am pleased to announce the launch of DEWA’s first Sustainability Report, which fulfils the wishes of our partners and stakeholders for more transparency and information about sustainability, and about DEWA’s performance and management of sustainability,” Al Tayer added. “We are looking forward to continuous growth in business, DEWA intends to lead the way in sustainability and contribute to Dubai’s and the UAE’s strategy for sustainable development and green growth by aligning with the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, the UAE Vision 2021, the National Agenda, and meeting the growth in demand that accompanies hosting Expo 2020 in Dubai. Our achievements to date have underlined our ambitions, from which we show our commitment to the future by journeying towards excellence. We all work to achieve the sustainable development of our country. We are confident because of our achievements and we are optimistic about the future,” Al Tayer concluded. The Dubai Clean Energy Forum includes comprehensive and detailed discussions and dialogue that address the opportunities and challenges for sustainable development. It also discusses the best practices and mechanisms to plan and implement renewable energy projects on a large scale. It will help draw a roadmap that will strengthen global efforts to raise the efficiency and reliability of clean energy and to develop action plans and partnership frameworks that support implementing future joint projects to serve the public interest. The Forum addresses clean energy solutions, opportunities and new technologies, including investment opportunities for emerging markets, new models of partnership, and technological advancements in clean and renewable energy. The Forum is attended by a number of officials, decision makers, experts, and specialists from government and private organisations from the UAE and abroad, in addition to energy service providers, technology and equipment developers, and a large number of representatives from conventional and renewable-energy companies. The first Sustainability Report can be found on DEWA’s website.