HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), welcomed Francesco La Camera, the new Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), who recently assumed his duties.
The meeting was attended by Dr Nawal Khalifa Al Hosany, UAE’s Permanent Representative to IRENA, and Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA.
Al Tayer welcomed La Camera and wished him success in his future mission, affirming DEWA’s keenness on strengthening cooperation, friendship, and joint work with local and global United Nations (UN) organisations.
He also stressed the importance of cooperation between DEWA and IRENA as well as exchanging best experiences and practices in the renewable & clean energy and sustainability sectors to further develop these areas and mutually benefit from shared experiences. During the meeting, Al Tayer reviewed DEWA’s latest local and international projects and achievements as well as its role in promoting sustainable development in Dubai.
Al Tayer briefed the visiting delegation on DEWA’s projects, initiatives, and plans that were launched to achieve the vision of the wise leadership and strengthen the UAE’s and Dubai’s global leadership. Al Tayer explained that DEWA works to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to secure its energy supply by diversifying the energy mix to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050. To achieve this, DEWA launched several renewable programmes and initiatives, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world. Using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, it will have a capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030 and investments totalling AED 50 billion.
Al Tayer also discussed DEWA’s efforts that helped Dubai received the global Platinum Rating in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Cities certification awarded by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Dubai is the first city in the Middle East and North Africa to receive this prestigious certification. He also discussed DEWA’s contribution that has led to a significant reduction in carbon emissions in Dubai, whereby the net carbon dioxide emissions in Dubai decreased by a significant 19% by the end of 2018, two years ahead of the Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021 target to reduce the carbon emissions by 16% by 2021.
Discussions between the two parties included the achievements of the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) that was launched in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to promote the transition to a green economy, deploy green economy projects globally, and support countries and organisations seeking to achieve their green strategy and plans. WGEO is working with several countries to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
La Camera commended DEWA’s efforts and its prominent role in enhancing the sustainable development of Dubai. He thanked Al Tayer for the warm welcome and for the opportunity to discuss collaboration opportunities and promote bilateral relations.