Global energy today is undergoing change at an unprecedented speed, driven by a blend of technology innovations and emerging supply and demand dynamics that influence consumer behaviour and policymaking frameworks. We stand at a crossroads today – one that makes transition to renewables and clean energy imperative to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the tenets of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Abu Dhabi and the UAE take this energy transition very seriously and place it at the core of their programmes and strategies for the sector.
Hosting the 24th World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi is a significant milestone that adds to the emirate’s impressive track record and cements its position as a world’s leading energy capital. Held under the theme ‘Energy for Prosperity’, the global event brings together the most prominent decision and policy makers, including ministers, heads of companies, investors, researchers and industry experts. It creates momentum for us at the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy to carry on with our mission of steering the emirate’s transition towards an efficient, sustainable, and environmentally responsible system.
The Congress is a great platform to showcase the key developments transforming all facets of our local energy landscape, from the restructuring of the sector in 2018 – marked by the separation of regulatory and operational aspects which drive effective energy transition and empowerment of the private sector – all the way to the launch of the Abu Dhabi Demand-Side Management and Energy Rationalization Strategy 2030 this week. The ambitious strategy features a joint effort between local stakeholders to reduce electricity consumption by 22% and water consumption by 32% by 2030, against a 2013 baseline.
Demand for energy and energy technologies is on the rise; and with that in mind, we developed the Abu Dhabi Integrated Energy Model, ‘Energy Cube’, which taps into advanced technological tools to test the impact of existing policies on the energy sector and the wider economy, while helping to project future scenarios for the next 10 to 30 years.
We also continue to develop a solid energy infrastructure in Abu Dhabi, and we’ll be pleased to share our portfolio of world’s leading projects such as the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, Noor Abu Dhabi Solar PV Plant, Al Taweelah Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant, Masdar Clean Energy Company, and many more during the Congress.
Again, we are delighted to welcome the 24th edition of the World Energy Congress to Abu Dhabi and look forward to working together with all delegates to make this event an accelerator of global energy transition.