Next level unlocked • Chapter summary
ne of the most talked about advantages of Dubai is its clearly defined vision articulated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the rest of the public sector. This is an Dubai-wide sentiment, though it rings especially true in terms of sustainability and Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy. In the long term, the Emirate is striving toward an energy matrix comprised of 75% clean sources by 2050. To reach this target, the goverment has set intermediate goals. By 2030, the expected energy matrix is gas 61%, solar 25%, nuclear 7%, and clean coal 7%. To be sure, there is no denying conventional hydrocarbons will continue to play an important role in the short term. But the future will consistently raise the bar regarding sustainability. Calls for sustainability come as demand is increasing; Dubai Energy and Water Authority (DEWA) is investing AED81 billion over the next five years to meet growing demand for water and electricity in the Emirate.
With solar energy as the second-largest source by 2030, DEWA is overseeing the progress of the world’s largest single-site solar IPP project. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is in its fourth phase, helping Dubai achieve the world’s lowest concentrated solar power and photovoltaic prices per kWh, at USD0.073 and USD0.024, respectively. The fifth stage is set to break these records yet again.
DEWA’s list of honorifics and achievements does not end with solar energy. In terms of energy and water efficiency, the national utility is ahead
Oof others in the US and Europe. Water efficiency is further supported by the integration of smart technologies. According to Xylem’s Middle East Managing Director Frank Ackland, it is about time to get smart about water supply and demand globally. He notes that in Dubai, “we see water solutions placed front and center. With everyone already on the same page, we are talking about what more we can do and how can we move forward multilaterally in the same direction.”
Driving this development, DEWA is arguably the world’s most innovative utility, joining the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and investing in sustainability-related SMEs. South Energy, the energy solutions provider for the master-planned development that hosts the Expo 2020 site, is also ahead of the curve. Its energy management system and command center is setting new standards and leading the change in resource management, with data collection and analysis providing the foundations for optimal efficiencies.
During Expo 2020, Dubai has the opportunity to showcase these achievements and invite the world to offer a plethora of additional sustainability solutions. With a sub-theme of sustainability and dedicated sustainability pavilion, the event itself is committed to being one of the most sustainable expos ever. And as Waleed Salman, Chairman of the Dubai Carbon Centre for Excellence, points out, “The green economy is not a matter of a single project or initiative; it concerns us all.” ✖