HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Chairman of World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), welcomed HE Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, to DEWA’s Research and Development (R&D) Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. Al Nuaimi headed a delegation from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) that included HE Sultan Alwan, Acting Undersecretary, and other senior officials.

The two parties discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation to achieve the vision of the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to promote sustainability and innovation, as well as accelerate the development of a sustainable green economy, and strengthen the UAE’s pioneering ability to manage environmental and climate change challenges. This is done by using clean and renewable energy technologies, especially solar power, to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability for generations to come.

Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Excellence at DEWA, and Abdul Rahim Sultan, Director General of the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), along with senior officials from WGEO and DEWA also attended the meeting.

HE Al Tayer and HE Dr Al Nuaimi toured the R&D Centre, 70% of whose researchers are Emiratis. The Centre’s research focuses on solar power, smart grid integration, energy efficiency, and water. It looks at Fourth Industrial Revolution applications, such as 3D printing and additive manufacturing. These are some of the innovative solutions being used to produce spare parts for DEWA’s generation, transmission, and distribution systems. The outdoor testing facilities of the R&D Centre include the Green Hydrogen project, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to produce green hydrogen using solar power. The station has been designed to accommodate future applications and test platforms of different uses for hydrogen, such as for industry and transportation.

The meeting included talks on ways to increase cooperation and strategic collaboration between DEWA, WGEO, and MOCCAE. DEWA is building robust integrated strategic partnerships with all local and federal bodies. This is in addition to exchanging information and best practices and experiences because of the importance of improving sustainable growth and addressing both climate change and development issues. The UAE will host the MENA Climate Week 2022, which is the first event of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, on 2-3 March 2022 during Expo 2020 Dubai. The event aims to encourage more momentum to address climate change in the Middle East and North Africa.

Al Nuaimi and the accompanying delegation were briefed on DEWA’s key projects, initiatives, and programmes. DEWA has adopted sustainability as part of its vision and has developed a strategy that targets the aspects of sustainability: the environment, economy, and society. This aligns with the efforts of the UAE, which has a clear vision and local and federal strategies to protect natural resources, increase the share of clean energy, and implement green development plans. This contributes to implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.

Al Tayer said that DEWA has a clear direction for the energy sector based on the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. DEWA employs the latest Fourth Industrial Revolution applications and disruptive technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and Smart Grids, to enhance energy efficiency and increase the happiness of all stakeholders, including customers. Thanks to the directives of the wise leadership, DEWA is moving forward with using clean energy, and currently has promising solar projects at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world with a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030. Upon its completion, the solar park will cut over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year. DEWA is also building the 250MW pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta, which will use existing water stored in the Hatta Dam. DEWA has additional projects underway to use wind energy. DEWA has made significant achievements using clean energy. The share of clean energy capacity in Dubai’s energy mix has increased to 9%. This exceeds the percentage set in the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 7% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2020.

Al Tayer noted that these efforts have contributed to Dubai reducing its carbon emissions by 22% in 2019, two years ahead of the target to reduce it by 16% by 2021 in the Carbon Abatement Strategy.

“Tackling climate change through implementing robust mitigation and adaptation measures is a strategic priority of the UAE. At the center of our efforts is the diversification of energy sources and increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix with the ultimate goal of reaching carbon neutrality. To achieve these objectives, MOCCAE actively collaborates with government and private sector stakeholders to integrate climate action in future strategies and directions,” said Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

“DEWA is a key player in our drive to diversify energy sources in the UAE. In line with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, its 5 GW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will boost the country’s renewables capacity and reduce carbon emissions by 6.5 million tonnes every year. The mega project has also contributed to lowering the global cost of solar power generation, as the bid for its fifth phase was less than 1.7 US cents per kWh,” Al Nuaimi added.

The Minister applauded DEWA’s work that helps set the UAE on the right course towards carbon neutrality. Prime examples are the Hatta hydroelectric plant, the EV Green Charger Initiative, and the recently inaugurated Green Hydrogen project.