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ENGIE: Taking on the challenge of the energy transition

Looking at the UAE's strategy of economic diversification, downstream industries are springing up in ports and industrial zones as well as a booming services industry.

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ENGIE's ambition for the UAE is to provide dependable, carbon-light power, flexible and competitive natural gas solutions and smart and efficient services
Looking at the UAE's strategy of economic diversification, downstream industries are springing up in ports and industrial zones as well as a booming services industry. These, combined with demographic growth and urbanisation, are highly promising factors for the country's economic future. These factors call for smart solutions in energy security and efficiency, fuel diversity and renewable power, smart solutions for cities, etc.
Armed with global and regional experience, ENGIE can offer practical solutions to the multiple energy challenges that the region faces such as diversifying its fuel mix, while continuing to advance the hydrocarbon market in a sustainable way.
"To support the UAE in taking on these challenges, ENGIE can extensively leverage both the know-how and significant experience that the Group has gained from working in power, natural gas, and energy services, with various technologies and in various markets worldwide," says Willem Van Twembeke, CEO
of ENGIE's  International Energy activities. 
Formerly known as GDF SUEZ, ENGIE adopted its current brand name to highlight its resolution towards a carbon-light, more decentralised, efficient and digitalised energy environment.
" Our new global brand comes with an optimistic vision and the drive to be an architect of this energy transition," adds Van Twembeke.

Green and smart solutions

With abundant solar resources, the Gulf region is harnessing solar energy through various programmes. Abu Dhabi has set a renewable energy target of 7 per cent by 2020, which it aims to achieve through projects such as Shams, Masdar's 100MW Concentrated Solar Power project and first of its kind in the Middle East. Dubai, on the other hand, is targeting 15 per cent of solar energy in its electricity mix by 2030.
ENGIE holds international solar experience. Its recent merger with Solairedirect, a leader in competitive solar, bolstered its position, which made it a market leader in France and strengthened its global position with presence in more than 15 countries.
ENGIE has also been developing decentralised rooftop solar offers worldwide including the US, Australia, India, Chile and Europe, and servicing thousands of customers.
In that perspective, the group particularly welcomes the new DEWA Shams initiative programme to support the Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
It encourages household and building owners (residential, commercial and industrial customers) to install photovoltaic panels on rooftops to generate solar power. The electricity generated by the rooftop solar is used on site and the surplus is exported to DEWA's network with a discount on the user's bill.
The initiative gives the opportunity, especially to commercial and industrial customers to reduce their energy costs and take a huge step toward meeting their own sustainability goals. ENGIE sees a great potential in the UAE to transform the energy landscape with decentralised energy and has the experience to guide and support its local customers by proposing them an innovative one-stop solution, including the technical and financial aspects.