Abu Dhabi unveils energy efficiency strategy

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has unveiled a strategy targeting a 22 per cent reduction in energy consumption and a 32 per cent reduction in water consumption over the next decade.
The Abu Dhabi Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalization Strategy (DSM) 2030 will provide significant economic, system reliability, and environmental benefits in line with the Abu Dhabi Vision and relevant UAE national strategies. The announcement was made during a press conference held jointly by the DoE and the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council at the sidelines of the 24th World Energy Congress.
The strategy addresses supply and demand issues through a 9-programme multi-stakeholder approach that has a high potential to reduce electricity consumption by 22 per cent and water consumption by 32 per cent by 2030. The reduction targets have been determined against the Business-as-Usual (BaU) baseline consumption of 2013 using a top-down approach to define the DSM Strategy goals until 2030, and a bottom-up approach to evaluate programme achievements against the set targets.
With Abu Dhabi's energy demand projected to increase steadily over the next decade and consumption rates projected to increase by 1.4 per cent each year until 2035, energy efficiency and rationalisation present key solutions to energy and climate change concerns. In the context of Abu Dhabi, a rising population and growing economy have been the key factors driving the increase in peak power demand which grew by an average of 8.3 per cent per year between 2007 and 2017. The growth in demand has largely come from a range of industrial and business sector activities and increased exports to the smaller Northern Emirates. With this, the need to optimise the system demand and rationalise consumption has become a priority.
"The wise leadership of Abu Dhabi has recognised the challenges facing our energy sector and outlined measures to diversify the emirate's energy mix and boost its energy efficiency in the Plan Abu Dhabi 2030, ensuring a safe, reliable and sustainable system for the future," said Awaidha Al Marar, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy. "Launching the Abu Dhabi DSM Strategy 2030 is a great opportunity to showcase the emirate's continuous efforts to lead the transition towards a secure, reliable and sustainable energy system in line with Abu Dhabi Vision and the UAE national agenda to support UN Sustainable Development Goals and accelerate the Paris Agreement climate change objectives."
The nine core DSM programmes include: Building Retrofits, Demand Response, Efficient Water Use/Re-use, Building Regulations, Street Lighting, District Cooling, Standards & Labels, Energy Storage, and Rebates & Awareness.
- business@khaleejtimes.com