Clean energy is the UAE's fresh focus

The UAE's future energy strategy has adopted a smart path, which determines how much each energy source - renewable or conventional - will contribute to the policy.

Thousands of attendees representing 175 countries gathered on Tuesday at the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Summit - part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week - to address the topics of clean energy and a sustainable future.
UAE officials discussed various initiatives and unified strategies the nation has unveiled to contribute to the future of clean energy, with a focus on efficient energy consumption, in the next three decades. Last week, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the UAE Energy Plan for 2050, which aims to save Dh700 billion by increasing the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50 per cent. The plan also aims to increase the consumption efficiency by 40 per cent.
Dr Mattar Al Neyadi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy, UAE, told Khaleej Times that the country has adopted a smart path, which determines how much each of the energy sources - whether renewable and clean sources or conventional, such as gas and coal - will contribute to the policy. "Despite these being different sources of energy, they can still compliment each other on a commercial basis," Dr Al Neyadi said. "Although the UAE is an oil producing country, we believe if we invest in renewable and clean sources that can free more facilities for export, it will save our resources for the next generation." Dr Al Neyadi noted that the UAE and the region are "in a better position when it comes to the solar energy.
"We think it is important to utilise this natural and renewable sources by putting it within a strategy with a clear plan and path to the future; this is why we are focusing on sustainability."
Fatima Alfoora Alshamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Future Energy and Electricity Affairs, Ministry of Energy, also praised the country's energy strategy. "The energy strategy is calling for 50 per cent clean energy of the bar capacity by 2050 and that is why we call it '50 at 50'.
"This combination would also have the remaining 50 per cent to continue having fossil fuel - 38 per cent for gas and 12 per cent for clean coal. Balancing between this combination is part of the government's vision to have a sustainable economy," she added. Alshamsi pointed out four main aspects to consider: the security and continuity of supply represented by the diversification of energy, affordability of energy to the public and businesses, sustainability factors, and the happiness of the UAE people by 2050.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi