Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the French electricity company (Électricité de France) to enhance further cooperation and facilitate exchanging of expertise in areas of mutual interest. The MoU with Électricité de France (EDF) supports DEWA’s efforts to build strategic partnerships that employ regional and international capabilities to drive sustainable development, tackle climate change, and enhance energy efficiency. The MoU was signed at DEWA’s stand at the World Future Energy Summit 2017 (WFES).
The MoU was signed by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, and Antoine Cahuzac, Senior Executive Vice President of Renewable Energies at EDF, and was witnessed by HE Michel Miraillet, Ambassador of France to the UAE.
According to the MoU, DEWA and EDF will work together in Research and Development (R&D) in energy system integration, energy storage, renewable energy, distributed energy resources, demand response, energy resilience, disaster recovery, electric vehicle charging stations, and laboratory infrastructure development.
“At DEWA, we work to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve the sustainable development of Dubai, while protecting natural resources to ensure a brighter future for generations to come. We do this by promoting the shift towards renewable energy to support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to diversify Dubai’s energy mix, increasing clean energy to 7% by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050. This will contribute to tackling the environmental challenges that the world is facing by establishing a sustainable model for energy conservation that can be exported to the whole world, while supporting economic growth without damaging the environment or natural resources,” said Al Tayer.
“Establishing a strategic partnership with a leading organisation such as EDF, which has a proven track record of achievements in electricity and R&D, supports DEWA’s commitment to adopting the latest technological innovations and benefiting from international best practices. We strive to enhance cooperation in R&D, and exchange expertise in areas of mutual interest. This will contribute to innovating analytical methodologies, and improving tools to develop innovative solutions to increase energy efficiency and further promote renewable energy use. This in turn, will contribute to achieving the sustainable development and the protect natural resources for generations to come,” added Al Tayer.
“EDF is very proud to be alongside DEWA and support the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, focusing on major R&D topics, promoting smart grid development, and renewable resources integration. This is key for the low carbon future of Dubai. We are convinced that this Memorandum of Understanding signature is the first step towards a long-lasting and significant cooperation between EDF and DEWA” said Cahuzac.