Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has launched these days the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to make Dubai a world hub for clean energy and green economy.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed affirmed that the United Arab Emirates is leading international efforts in clean and renewable energy despite having one of the world’s largest oil reserves.
Sheikh Mohammed said: “The strategy we are launching today will shape the energy sector in Dubai over the next three decades. It aims to provide 75% of the emirate’s energy through clean energy sources by 2050, reflecting our commitment to establish a sustainable model in energy conservation which can be exported to the whole world, and support economic growth without damaging the environment and natural resources. Our goal is to become the city with the least carbon footprint in the world by 2050.”
He added: “Every investment in the development of clean energy sources is at the same time an investment to protect the environment for future generations. It is an effort to build our sustainable economic sectors which do not depend on non-renewable energy resources and are unaffected by volatile energy prices. Through this strategy, which is based on innovation, research and development, we aim to explore the future of the energy sector to unveil initiatives that will make use of the scientific and technological developments in this sector and take the lead in their development and application.”
His Highness asserted that the UAE is keen to become a worldwide reference platform in sustainability practices by remodeling concepts into real applications. His Highness called on international companies and R&D centers to make Dubai a base for testing and applying the next generation of clean energy technologies to make a global model that may benefit the world.
Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came during the inauguration of the second part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park at Al Marmum area in Dubai. The solar park is considered as the largest of its kind in the world, which can produce 5,000 megawatts in a single location by 2030, and involves total investments worth AED fifty billion.
His Highness also inaugurated the construction works of DEWA Innovation Centre, which includes below its umbrella a group of research and development laboratories in the field of clean energy with a total investment of AED five hundred million
Dubai Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Minister for Cabinet Affairs Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister of State Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Director General of Dubai Protocol Department Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman and a number of senior official s attended the inauguration.
A strategy with ambitious goals and clear pillars
Dubai Clean Energy Strategy aims to supply seven percent of Dubai’s energy from clean energy sources by 2020. It’ll increase this target to twenty fifth percent by 2030 and seventy fifth percent by 2050.
The strategy consists of five main pillars: Infrastructure, legislation, funding, building capacities and skills, environment friendly energy combine.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure pillar includes initiatives such as Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, that is the largest generator of alternative energy in the world from a single location with a capability to provide 5,000 MW by 2030, and total investment of AED fifty billion. the first part of this project began operations in 2013. The second part will begin operations in April 2017 with a capacity of 800 MW, the third part will begin operations in 2020 with a capacity of 1000 MW, while the fourth part will begin operations in 2030 with a capacity of 5000 MW, which is twenty fifth percent of the total energy production in the emirate of Dubai as estimated.
The infrastructure pillar also includes a comprehensive innovation center that will be built using 3D printing technology. The innovation center features a group of analysis and development centers specialized in the next generation of clean energy technologies like solar energy technology test centre, drones research center, 3D printing technology, and solar energy based desalination tests center. AED five hundred million are invested in research and development in areas such as integration of smart grids, energy efficiency and electricity generation from solar energy.
The infrastructure pillar also includes the establishment of a new free zone under the name ‘Dubai Green Zone’ dedicated to attracting research and development centers and emerging companies in the field of clean energy.
Legislation
The second pillar focuses on the establishment of a legislative structure supporting clean energy policies in two phases. the first part are going to be implemented through Shams Dubai initiative that aims to encourage building owners to place solar panels on the roofs and link them to the main network of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. The second part includes coordination with Dubai Municipality to issue a set of decisions on the integration of consumption rationalization technology and energy production and the requirement to install solar panels on the roofs of all building in Dubai by 2030.
Dubai Green Fund
The third pillar is related to funding solutions for investment in analysis and development on clean energy and its application. This pillar includes the establishment of ‘Dubai Green Fund’ worth of AED a hundred billion which will contribute through its financial resources simple loans for investors in the clean energy sector in the emirate at reduced interest rates. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority will ensure the demand management and economic value of the project.
Building capacities and skills
The fourth pillar aims to make human resources capabilities through global coaching programmes in the field of clean energy in cooperation with international organizations and institutes like International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as well as international companies and R&D centers. The pillar will contribute to the creation of a sustainable model for research and development in the area of clean energy based on specialized human capabilities in this field.
Environment friendly energy mix
The fifth pillar is targeted on making an environment friendly energy mix comprising solar energy twenty fifth percent, nuclear power seven percent, clean coal seven percent, gas sixty one percent by 2030. The mix will gradually increase the utilization of clean energy sources to seventy fifth percent by 2050, making Dubai the city with the least carbon footprint city in the world. This pillar also activates energy generation mechanisms through waste by employing state-of-the-art technologies in this area that will contribute to show eighty percent of the emirate waste to energy by 2030.
