Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is participating in the 2nd International Solar Energy Exhibition and Conference (Photovoltaica), which is organised under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco from 7-9 September. Photovoltaica is organised by the Ministry of Energy, Mining, Water, and the Environment, in collaboration with the Energy Investment Company, and the Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies. A number of prominent experts, and large organisations and companies from around the world are taking part in the show, which highlights the issues related to integration of photovoltaic energy in electrical networks in the construction and industry sectors.
In his speech at the conference, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, thanked HE Abdelkader Aâmara, Minister of Energy, Mining, Water, and the Environment for the warm invitation, noting that the relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Morocco is a robust one. The foundations of this special relation was laid down by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the late King Hassan II.
"Today, UAE-Moroccan relations growing remarkably across all areas, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco. During his visit to the kingdom last year, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, emphasised that the relations between the UAE and the Kingdom of Morocco is a unique example of bilateral relations to be followed by other countries. His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi reaffirmed that the bilateral relations between the two countries are further consolidated thanks to both leaderships sharing common political perspectives based on the importance of achieving security, stability, and peace. The relationship between the two countries is constantly developing, thus contributing to the common interests of the two countries in brotherhood. In 2014, non-oil trade between the UAE and Morocco was $ 526 million and in 2015, the two countries signed 21 cooperation agreements in different areas," said Al Tayer.
"Both the UAE and Morocco share the same direction of investing in alternative energy sources. Today, it’s my pleasure to highlight Dubai’s efforts, and those of the UAE, to increase the use of clean and renewable energy through a host of initiatives and projects that reflect the priority given by the leadership of the UAE, led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to sustainable development. I would like to reiterate the words of His Highness HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who once observed that, ‘Every investment in the development of clean energy sources is at the same time an investment to protect the environment for future generations,'" he added.
"The UAE, led by the vision of our wise leadership, has begun preparations to bid farewell to the last drop of oil. This vision realises the importance of renewable energy to achieve a balance between development and the environment, to ensure the right of future generations to live in a clean, healthy, and safe environment. This supports the UAE Vision 2021 and the Dubai Plan 2021. Sustainability tops the priorities of DEWA, being the first public service utility in the Middle East and North Africa to adopt the fourth generation of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI-G4) guidelines in preparing sustainability reports. In 2014 DEWA was one of only 55 global utilities to publish sustainability reports based on these guidelines," said Al Tayer.
Al Tayer noted that DEWA makes every effort to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 7% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy sources by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050. This strategy consists of five main pillars that include: infrastructure, legislation, funding, building capacities and skills, and an environmentally-friendly energy mix. The first pillar, Infrastructure, includes initiatives such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, with a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030, and total investment of USD $13.6 billion to reduce approximately 6.5 million tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide emissions.
The Solar Park includes DEWA’s Innovation Centre, which features a number of research and development centres in clean energy technologies, drone research, 3D-printing, and water desalination using solar energy. DEWA has allocated a total investment of USD $135 million to Research and Development (R&D) in areas such as integration of smart grids, energy efficiency and electricity generation from solar energy. The infrastructure pillar also includes establishing the Dubai Green Zone, which is a free zone designed to attract research and development centres and clean energy start-ups.
Legislation, the second pillar, focuses on the establishment of a legislative structure supporting clean energy policies, through the Shams Dubai initiative to encourage building owners to place solar panels on roofs and connect them to DEWA’s power grid. Funding through the Dubai Green Fund is the third pillar. This is about financing solutions for investment in research and development on clean energy and its applications. This pillar includes the establishment of Dubai Green Fund, which will be worth USD $27 billion. Building capacities and skills is the fourth pillar. This aims to develop skills through global training programmes in clean energy, in cooperation with international organisations, institutes and research and development centres.
The fifth pillar is focused on creating an environmentally-friendly energy mix with solar power generating 25%, nuclear power 7%, clean coal 7%, and gas 61% by 2030. The mix will gradually increase the share of clean energy to 75% by 2050.
DEWA adopts the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model in the solar park’s projects to enable a competitive work environment, and make use of the investments and expertise of the private sector in developing them. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park has attracted the interest of global business and energy companies, which reflects the trust and interest from investors in large projects adopted by Dubai Government, encouraged by the favourable existing regulatory and legislative frameworks in Dubai that enable public-private partnerships.
Al Tayer noted that in June, DEWA announced that the UAE’s Masdar-led consortium was the selected bidder for the 800 megawatt (MW) third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which will be constructed based on the IPP model. DEWA has received a global record price of USD 2.99 cents per kilowatt (kW) for the park’s third phase. DEWA also aims to build the largest Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project in the world, using the IPP model. DEWA has released a tender for leading international CSP consultants to submit their proposals for advisory services for the 200MW first project of the CSP plant. It will be operational by April 2021. DEWA will generate 1,000MW using this technology by 2030.
"In Dubai and the UAE, we do not rest on our laurels. Instead, we constantly strive to do better, being inspired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who once observed ‘Success is not a destination, but a journey. Each time that you reach a summit on this journey, you must look ahead to the next one.’ We will continue to develop clean and renewable energy projects to achieve this vision, and enhance sustainability. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park is expected to become an international platform for innovation, where the UAE can work alongside the international community to shape a more sustainable, happier, and brighter future, for generations to come," concluded Al Tayer.