(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A clean energy strategy based on five pillars is all set to reduce carbon emissions in the country by 16 per cent in the next four years.
Realising the importance of renewable energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has joined the efforts to make Dubai as one of the cities with the lowest carbon footprints worldwide, in line with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. DH10m energy contest for students Dubai will host two rounds of the Solar Decathlon, which will be held for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa. Dubai will host the first decathlon in 2018 and again in 2020 to coincide with World Expo 2020 in Dubai. Competition prizes will make a total of Dh10 million. In 2015, Dewa has allocated Dh55million of its budget for scholarships and 24 students received scholarships in renewable energy between 2014 and 2016. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dewa, has said that DEWA is supporting sustainability in Dubai through mega projects in renewable energy and environment protection. One of the key projects is the Dh50billion Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world with a planned capacity to produce 5,000MW electricity by 2030. Saeed Al Tayer Dewa highlighted an array of programmes set for the next five years to generate clean energy based on the strategy. The Clean Energy Strategy comprises five main pillars: Infrastructure; Legislation; Funding, Building capacities and skills; and Environmentally-friendly energy mix. Meanwhile the Solar Park project is expected to provide 1,100 green jobs for citizens and residents in Dubai by 2020. According to Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the projected green efficiency will increase economic growth by about 4-4.5 per cent by 2030 and would facilitate 160,000 new jobs, ensuring green growth and resources to limit effects on the environment. Saeed Al Tayer added: "We will strive to make the Solar Park an international platform for innovation, from which all UAE citizens, and people around the world can benefit, contributing to a brighter, and more sustainable future for generations to come. "We will continue to build more renewable and clean energy projects, to achieve this vision and enhance sustainability." The solar park so far The 13MW first phase of the solar park became operational in October 2013, at a cost of Dh124 million. This included the establishment of a 13MW photovoltaic plant and a 33kV substation, which has been connected to Dewa's grid. The 200MW second phase of the solar park, which was launched by Shaikh Mohammed on Nov. 28, 2015 on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model will be operational by April 2017. The Dewa has set a world record by obtaining the lowest price globally for the second phase, at $5.6 cents per kilowatt hour (kW/h) for the cost of photovoltaic energy. This year in June, Dewa chose Masdar-led consortium to develop the 800MW third phase of the park, which will be operational by 2020. Besides, Dewa intends to build the largest Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project in the world, based on the IPP model, which will be operational by April 2021. Dewa aims to generate 1,000MW using this technology by 2030. The IPP model ensures the efficient management of resources, by using private sector investments to reduce the burden on the public sector.
Staff Reporter