Renewable energy to help reduce emissions

UAE hailed for showcasing possibilities of sustainable energy future

Ahigh-level report has found that the development and deployment of renewable sources, and increase in energy efficiency, will meet 90 per cent of the emission reductions needed to maintain global temperature rises to below two degrees Celsius, a top renewable energy expert announced in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

The two-degree global temperature rise target was set for this century as part of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, and Adnan Amin, director general at the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), said that solar power will make up nearly 30 per cent of the renewable energy sources needed to limit temperature rises.

Global GDP

“The energy transformations [detailed in the Irena report] will also boost global GDP by 0.8 per cent, and provide 26 million jobs around the world by 2050,” Amin said.

“The UAE has itself continued to showcase the immense possibilities of a prosperous and sustainable energy future. Last year, Abu Dhabi announced the signing of a contract signed for a 1.1-gigawatt solar plant for a record low bid of 2.42 cents per kilowatt hour. And last month, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority selected Aquapower and Shanghai Power to build 700 megawatts of concentrated solar power at the Mohammad Bin Rashid Solar Complex, and this will deliver energy at 7.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, as well as storage. These are remarkable developments,” he added.

Amin was speaking at the 2017 Solar World Congress, which saw 500 scientists and energy experts sharing their expertise, developments and breakthrough in renewable energy technologies.

3.1 million jobs

The opening of the fourday congress was attended by several government officials, including Dr Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister for Climate Change and Environment.

Addressing the Congress, Dr Al Zeyoudi said the UAE has been at the forefront of the global energy surge, having secured record low solar energy prices thrice in the past two years for projects in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

According to Amin, solar is the fastest growing renewable energy source, with 300 gigawatts of installed solar photovoltaic capacity in 2016, and 3.1 million jobs in the sector.

Despite such progress, much more needs to be done to make energy systems more sustainable, officials said.