UAE | Environment
UAE 'ideal' for renewable energy
The UAE has the right climate and topography for the production and use of renewable energy - particularly wind and solar - as the country pushes for non-polluting alternative energy sources.
- By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 22:48 July 2, 2009
- The UAE, which is hosting the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency, could make use of wind turbines to produce electricity.
- Image Credit: Bloomberg News
Al Ain: The UAE has the right climate and topography for the production and use of renewable energy - particularly wind and solar - as the country pushes for non-polluting alternative energy sources.
Extensive research efforts are being made by scientists and experts on different projects in the country against a backdrop of a worldwide race for renewable energy resources and technologies, said Dr Mohammad Yaqoub, an expert at the UAE University (UAEU).
The worldwide growth in solar and wind energy is on the rise and the UAE has immense opportunities for these two energies.
"Abu Dhabi's western region and the mountainous areas such as Jebel Hafeet and Fujairah mountains are the ideal places for solar and winds energy," said Dr Yaqoub, who is an Associate Professor of Remote Sensing and GIS at the Department of Geography of the UAE University.
Explaining renewable energy, he said it was generated from natural resources such as wind, sunlight and geothermal sources.
This energy, he said, could be used to produce electricity for domestic and industrial use.
The UAE is one of the world's largest per capita electricity consumers and has looked at nuclear energy to meet the future needs.
Dr Yaqoub said renewable energy had a number of benefits, pointing out it was free, apart from the initial investment and scheduled maintenance, as compared to the oil and other conventional energy resources.
The plan to develop the world's first carbon-free city, Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, has had a huge impact on research and development efforts for renewable energy in the Emirates.
The UAE's hosting of the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency, the first multi-government body to focus exclusively on the global development of renewable energy sources, has already revolutionised those efforts, said the expert, who is also working on different renewable energy projects.
What difference do you see this making for the UAE? Do you think this will make more of a impact now that developing countries are taking action?
Your comments
This is a big milestone for UAE. I was always watching the developments in solar energy thru net browsing. We have an abundant resourse compare to western countries.
Jose
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 17:35
this isa very good idea all
muslim countries need this energy.
A Rahman Beloushi
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 15:03
Of course, all these projects will have a very big impact on other countries for developing alternative energy.
Canivet
Paris,France
Posted: July 03, 2009, 12:12
This certainly does make a difference as far as pollution-free energy is concerned.
H. Gurung
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 11:12
Share this article
Popular in UAE
-
News
Patriotic vehicles
We asked for your pictures of cars decorated for National Day
Latest news
- Breathing fresh air
- Experts to discuss issues on higher education
- Officials foil bid to smuggle houbaras into UAE
- Parents urged to be vigilant
- Road disappears under sewage spill
- Man who lost eye to get full treatment
- New bus route launched
- Keeping the doctor away
- Arabic lessons leave pupils tongue-tied
- Burj Al Arab: Opulence has its place
- New bus route to link Mina Zayed & Ras Al Akhdar
- Freed British sailors will return for trophy
- Clinton hails UAE leadership and people
- Chief of Staff hails military capabilities
- Nation's policies reflect strategic dimensions
Community Reports
-
Road disappears under sewage spill
Gulf News reader calls attention to the sewage spill near Dubai Marina that has been inconveniencing motorists for a long time
-
Discipline those reserving parking slots
Some residents in Hor Al Anz are using unauthorised methods to hold parking spaces to ransom even when they have no use for them
-
A road that is best avoided
Thoroughfare connecting capital's Hamdan Street and Electra Street poses safety and health hazards
-
Please don't use two parking spaces
Thoughtless drivers means other motorists are losing out in a city where places to leave cars are often hard to find
