Accelerating the UAE’s renewables-based energy transition

UAE

The Energy Year talks to H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), about Dubai’s progress towards developing renewable energy sources, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and incorporating AI and advanced technology to boost the efficiency of energy assets across the UAE. DEWA is a public infrastructure company that manages Dubai’s electricity and water supply.

How are the UAE and Dubai progressing on hydrogen projects?
Green hydrogen has a prominent role in national energy transition plans that seek to place the UAE and Dubai at the nexus of the emerging hydrogen economy. The UAE aims to control 25% of the low-carbon hydrogen market by 2030, which is expected to grow to more than USD 400 billion by 2050.
Hydrogen is of strategic importance due to its ability to act as a medium that can store renewable energy deemed excess to requirements. It promises to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation, shipping, heavy trucking and heavy industry, which would put it on track to become an important export product.
DEWA’s Green Hydrogen project is aligned with ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions from energy and water production processes, helping to diversify and strengthen Dubai’s green economy and its position as a global clean energy hub, as well as to achieve the goals of the Dubai Green Mobility Strategy 2030 to promote the use of sustainable transport and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. DEWA has prepared a hydrogen road map that will be implemented in phases.
Since its launch in May 2021, the Green Hydrogen Project has produced approximately 90 tonnes of green hydrogen, most of which was used to produce more than 1 GWh of green electric power. Additionally, more than 2.5 tonnes of hydrogen were used to fuel 500 cars through ENOC’s Service Station of the Future at Expo 2020 Dubai.

What are the pillars of DEWA’s road map for Dubai to reach 100% of power generation capacity from clean sources by 2050?
DEWA is committed to accelerating the UAE’s renewables-based energy transition and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, guided by the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to strike a balance between sustainable economic growth, environmental protection and energy security.
Some of DEWA’s key considerations in its road map to position Dubai as a global leader in sustainable power generation include developing and expanding clean energy infrastructure, complying with legislation supporting the energy transition and mobilising investment and funding for clean energy projects.
These objectives underscore DEWA’s steadfast drive to achieve the goals of the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy, as well as the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, to ensure that clean and renewable sources account for 100% of the Emirate’s energy generation capacity by 2050.
To this end, DEWA has launched many globally leading projects and initiatives. They include the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, DEWA’s flagship project and the largest IPP single-site solar park in the world. Launched in 2012, it will have a production capacity of more than 7.2 GW by 2030, reducing over 8 million tonnes per year (tpy) of carbon emissions. The total capacity of projects commissioned at the solar park has reached about 3.5 GW from PV solar panels and concentrated solar power (CSP).
The solar park also houses the Green Hydrogen project, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to produce hydrogen through electrolysis powered by solar energy, in support of the National Hydrogen Strategy and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050.
To complement this is the Hatta Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant, a 250-MW project that is part of DEWA’s drive to diversify its renewable and clean sources in Dubai. The project, the first of its kind in the GCC, will generate electricity using water stored in the Hatta Dam and an upper dam in the mountains. The plant, designed as an energy storage facility with a capacity of 1.5 GWh, can deliver power to DEWA’s grid within 90 seconds to meet demand.
DEWA has also introduced other initiatives that are expected to accelerate the company’s plans to ensure clean sources account for 100% of Dubai’s energy generation capacity by 2050. They further the goals of the Dubai Demand-Side Management (DSM) Strategy 2050 to reduce electricity and water demand in Dubai by 30% by 2030 and by 50% by 2050, compared to business as usual.
DEWA’s Smart Grid, for example, aligns with the goals of the DSM Strategy 2050. DEWA has invested heavily in advanced smart grids that incorporate digital technologies to improve the reliability, efficiency and flexibility of its operations, enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance and quicker responses to power disruptions due to extreme weather.
DEWA’s Smart Grid Strategy 2021-2035 includes six main themes: foundational capabilities, grid automation, smart energy solutions and green mobility, smart water, smart grid AI and innovative value-added services.
Another initiative is sustainable desalination, which has seen DEWA move away from traditional multi-stage flash desalination plants to seawater reverse-osmosis desalination plants that consume less energy and are more efficient.
Furthermore, DEWA has embraced disruptive Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as AI, big data, IoT and automation to boost operational efficiency, sustainability and Dubai’s green economy aspirations. These disruptive technologies have driven innovation in PV, CSP, green hydrogen and battery energy systems, giving DEWA a distinctive edge in the race to carbon neutrality by 2050.
To drive innovation and ensure it achieves its target of 100% of Dubai’s energy generation capacity from clean sources by 2050, DEWA is also strengthening its public-private partnerships.

What are the next developments at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park going to be?
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a cornerstone of Dubai’s plans for a green energy future, and DEWA continues to develop it to help reduce carbon emissions and enhance the Emirate’s sustainability goals, energy security and global leadership in renewable solutions. The AED 50-billion [USD 13.5-billion] project is a prime example of Dubai’s leadership in renewable energy innovation and clean technology adoption.
The 950-MW fourth phase of the solar park, which uses CSP and PV technologies, achieved Guinness World Records for the tallest CSP tower, at 263.126 metres, and the largest thermal storage plant, at 5.9 GWh, using CSP based on a parabolic basin complex with molten salt technology.
DEWA is currently implementing the 1.8-GW sixth phase of the park, which uses the latest solar PV bifacial technologies with single-axis tracking and will reduce around 2.4 million tpy of carbon emissions. The sixth phase has achieved the world’s lowest levelised cost of energy of USD 0.0162 per kWh.
Additionally, the seventh phase of development will integrate 1.6 GW of PV capacity with a pioneering 1-GW battery energy storage system that can operate for six hours, providing 6 GWh of total storage. The seventh phase will produce 4.5 TWh of electricity annually, avoiding the burning of more than 1 bcm (36 bcf) of natural gas. It will be commissioned in stages between 2027 and 2029 and can be used anytime when needed.
DEWA is paying particular attention to energy storage solutions as it seeks to tap into the battery energy storage market. Energy storage systems help to stabilise the power grid by storing energy when demand is low and releasing it during peak times, ensuring a consistent and reliable supply of cost-effective power while reducing emissions.

Can you share some recent wins in achieving energy efficiency gains in Dubai?
In recent years, DEWA has made significant strides in achieving energy efficiency in Dubai through various leading projects and initiatives aligned to Dubai’s DSM Strategy 2050, which encompasses 12 key programmes. One of the primary programmes is building retrofits, with Dubai aiming to rehabilitate 55,000 buildings by 2030 to improve energy and water consumption efficiency.
By 2023, more than 15,000 buildings had been retrofitted in Dubai, resulting in energy savings of 709 GWh and water savings of 462 million gallons [1.7 billion litres], and preventing the burning of 991 mcm (35 bcf) of natural gas. Consequently, the targets of the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy have been surpassed, with carbon emissions dropping by 28.6% in 2023.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park plays a central role in this progress. By using both PV and CSP technologies, the park is on track to greatly contribute to increasing the share of clean energy in Dubai’s power generation mix to 34%, exceeding the initial target of 27%, in addition to reducing carbon emissions by 8 million tpy by 2030. The solar park’s rapid expansion and commitment to using innovative technologies have positioned it as a key driver in meeting Dubai’s clean energy goals.
In green hydrogen, DEWA’s Green Hydrogen project has since its launch in May 2021 reduced over 490 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. DEWA actively encourages the use of sustainable transport such as electric and hybrid vehicles. This supports the Dubai Green Mobility Strategy 2030 to encourage sustainable transport, consolidating Dubai’s position as the global capital of the green economy and sustainable development.
Towards digital transformation, DEWA is leveraging Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to boost operational efficiency, optimise customer service and enhance stakeholder experience and happiness. These technologies play a crucial role in enhancing smart grids, as well as DEWA’s Water Smart Distribution Management System and SCADA systems.
Digital DEWA, the digital arm of DEWA, is pioneering a new model for utilities through the use of innovation in renewable energy, energy storage, AI and digital services. The Moro Hub company, a key part of Digital DEWA, seeks to deliver innovative cutting-edge solutions and technologies to various government entities.

How is Dubai planning to overcome the key challenges to achieving its power and sustainability goals in the coming decade?
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum believes in actively shaping the future by rapidly transforming challenges into growth and innovation opportunities. He is on record as saying that challenges never deterred the people of the UAE from pursuing their path.
DEWA is guided by this proactive vision and wise leadership as it pushes to transform challenges in its area of work into opportunities to accelerate Dubai’s clean energy and green economy goals, ensuring global sustainability and a prosperous future for generations to come.
Dubai is addressing the challenges of clean energy integration and technological advancements by actively investing in and implementing solutions that ensure sustainable growth. It is seamlessly incorporating renewable energy into its power grid through initiatives such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is expanding to meet future demands. At the same time, Dubai is leveraging the latest technological advancements, such as smart grid systems, to enhance the efficiency and reliability of its energy networks.
These efforts not only help integrate clean energy but also optimise energy consumption, making Dubai a global leader in sustainable energy solutions. By continuing to innovate and invest in these areas, Dubai is well-positioned to overcome any challenges on its path to achieving its ambitions.

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