Dubai: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) will invest Dh60 billion in utility projects until 2020, Saeed Al Tayer, CEO and MD of Dewa said on Monday.
This investment will include expansion projects aimed at enhancing Dewa’s power generation capacity by 20 per cent to meet the ongoing demand in Dubai of customers and development projects in all economic and social sectors, particularly ahead of hosting the mega event Expo 2020,
“While Dewa currently has a large reserve of electricity and water, the expansion plan aims to promote sustainable development across the emirate,” Al Tayer said at a conference on Monday, while announcing Dewa Sustainability Report 2014 and Dubai Energy Strategy 2021.
Most of these projects will be executed through a private-public partnership, he added.
Under the tittle “Smarter and brighter energy future for Dubai”, Dewa released Dubai Energy Strategy 2021 during the conference, defining its target of energy and water conservation by 30 per cent by 2021.
While currently carbon emission across the emirate has been reduced by eight per cent, the CO2 emission will be cut further to 16 per cent by 2021 saving five million tonnes of CO2, according to the strategy.
To develop the 2021 strategy, Dewa examined all aspects related to economic trends, future electricity and water demand, supply issues, environmental challenges and regulatory framework, according to Al Tayer.
This strategy and road map are aligned to plans on the local and Federal level, including the UAE National Agenda 2021, Green Economy Initiative, Dubai Strategic plan, The Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 and the green economy initiative launched His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Sustainability is an integral part of Dubai Energy Strategy 2021, which can be achieved based on Dewa’s strategic priorities to ensure happiness of stakeholders, to adopt socially responsible business practices and to deliver electricity and water to the highest international standards, according to Al Tayer.
In line with the strategy, Dewa is working to rationalise the use of natural resources and minimise environmental footprint. By 2030, 15 per cent of Dubai’s total power output will be generated form solar energy, seven per cent from nuclear energy and seven per cent from clean coal.
Sustainable innovative utility
Al Tayer said that in the fast moving energy and water sector, the ability to innovate is critical for preparing Dewa and Dubai for the future.
“The theme of our strategy — ‘Strategic innovation’ — will keep us focused on finding appropriate solutions to the current and future challenges facing our business,” he said.
Under Vision 2021, the UAE is on a fast track to develop a knowledge-based economy, investing in its human capital and the potential to develop a competitive advantage in specific sectors.
By 2021, the UAE’s ambition is to have the knowledge sector contributing up to five per cent of the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Al Tayer said that Dewa has allocated Dh150 million to develop a research, development and innovation centre inside Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
This centre, dedicated to scaling renewable-energy technologies and energy efficiency practices, is set to open in 2017, and will also serve as an academy for renewable energy, he added.
