Abu Dhabi: In order to cater to around 25 million visitors who are expected at the Expo 2020, Dubai needs to produce more electricity, and reduce energy loss, said Carlos Pone, CEO at power and automation technology group, ABB’s Southern Gulf, Kuwait, and Pakistan region.
Pone was speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, and said that Dubai’s vision of becoming a smart city in time for the Expo 2020 can be achieved by adopting energy efficient measures.
While he did not announce new projects set out for the Expo, Pone said that announcements will made in the first quarter of 2015.
Massive developments
By 2020, Dubai’s electricity consumption is expected to reach 9.6gigawatt, a 50 per cent jump from 2012 levels.
“This new power generated has to feed the massive developments that are being rolled out to make the city Expo ready. The existing industries and infrastructure, both commercial and residential need to start reducing the amount of power they consume to help the city grow,” Pone said.
He added that this will help support the Dubai Supreme Energy Council’s vision that aims to reduce energy demand by 30 per cent.
“We want to tell the architects, engineers, and consultants who are working on making Dubai energy smart that we have the technology, and that six years to the Expo is a very short time, so make the most of now,” he said.
Pone also said that Dubai’s vision of integrating renewable sources of energy with fossil fuels can be achieved successfully by the use of smart grids.
Discussing energy sources, he projected more coal-generated plants, and said the next 10 years should see a better mix of energy generated from coal, nuclear, and solar sources.
