Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) - Sustainability and Renewable Energy

“I am pleased to be here today to announce Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s participation at the World Government Summit, which has become one of the key government events worldwide, thanks to the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. I am honoured that DEWA is the World Government Summit’s Sustainable Energy Partner. I view this as one of the most important topics of this year’s Summit, for which I am thankful. Renewable and sustainable energy has become increasingly important over the last few years, particularly with the world dealing with climate change. Energy is the biggest contributor to climate change, causing 60% of the world’s greenhouse gases. We are increasing our share of renewable energy so everyone can benefit from it and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. This also reduces carbon emissions and contributes to achieving the objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,”

The United Arab Emirates, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attached great importance to diversifying the energy mix. The UAE’s green vision recognises that renewable energy contributes to achieving a balance between development and environment to ensure a clean, healthy and safe environment for generations to come. Last November, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 with the roadmap for Dubai’s energy sector over the next three decades. The strategy has targets to provide 7% of Dubai’s energy from clean energy sources by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050. The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy will be the main topic of our discussions at the World Government Summit, and of course it is the foundation of all our initiatives and projects to achieve a sustainable future for generations to come. At DEWA, we work to achieve the vision of His Highness, which guides us to make Dubai a global hub for clean energy and green economy, and for Dubai to become the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world,” added Al Tayer.
Al Tayer noted that DEWA will share its experience in increasing its use of renewable energy. This includes the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar energy project in the world, based on the independent power producer model. The solar park will produce 1,000 MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by 2030 with a total investment of AED 50 billion. It will help achieve a reduction of approximately 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, which supports Dubai Government’s green initiatives and programmes.

“We will highlight Shams Dubai, DEWA’s initiative to encourage building owners to install photovoltaic panels on rooftops to generate solar power. We will also share our experience in innovation, our pioneering future energy projects, the best practices we adopt, the expertise we have gained over the years in energy management and efficiency, our smart initiatives, and our conservation programmes. We will also discuss our projects to use solar power to produce desalinated water through the UAE Water Aid initiative, which works to provide potable water to the needy, the disadvantaged, and those who are in distress around the world. It provides them with the basics of a decent life and contributes to finding permanent and sustainable solutions to water scarcity around the world,” added Al Tayer.

“I thank the World Government Summit and those involved in it, particularly His Excellency Mohammad Al Gergawi, for their considerable efforts to make this summit a success and for providing DEWA with the opportunity to be part of this success and share our experiences with the world. We support the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who has observed that Dubai’s experience is “available for whoever wants to study it and take advantage of it. Our goal is to achieve welfare for all people,” concluded Al Tayer.