Dubai Supreme Council of Energy evaluates implementation plans for Dubais solar power projects and green economy initiatives
Dubai, UAE, 3 February 2015: HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy chaired the Supreme Councils 33rd meeting held at its headquarters. The meeting was attended by HE Ahmed Butti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and other Supreme Council members including, Abdullah Kalban, MD & CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, Saeed Khoory, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Abdullah Abdel Kareem, Director General of the Department of Oil Affairs, Waleed Salman, Chairman of Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, Dr. Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Public Transport Agency at the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), and representatives from Dubai Supply Authority.
The Council members were briefed on the agenda, which included several topics including the carbon abatement strategy for Dubai.
Al Tayer reviewed the results of his official visit to Austria. Where the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to promote collaboration in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and to develop sustainable energy projects and programmes to be a platform for knowledge exchange about sustainability.
In line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the happiest city in the world, the Supreme Council discussed aligning its strategy with the Dubai Plan 2021, which seeks to establish Dubai as a smart and sustainable city. The Supreme Council of Energy and its subsidiaries showed the programmes that were presented to the Dubai Executive Council about sustainable energy, clean energy and energy efficiency in the Emirate, said Al Tayer.
Al Tayer highlighted raising the percentage of renewable energy targets in Dubais energy mix to 7% by 2020 and 15% by 2030, and the success DEWA achieved in getting the lowest international prices to produce electricity, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model for phase two of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
The Board was briefed on the latest energy demand-side management strategy as part of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to retrofit existing buildings, as well as improving the performance management and distribution of gas in Dubai to achieve the Dubai Integrated Gas Strategy 2030, added Al Tayer. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) presented its carbon reduction programme at its premises to implement Dubais carbon strategy, to reduce carbon emissions by 16% by 2021. This helped achieve a reduction of 5.3 million tonnes of carbon emissions from 2006 to 2013.
The members were also briefed about the progress of the Dubai Green Economy Partnership to stimulate green growth and sustainable development in Dubai and enhance its position as a leading global hub in the transition towards a green economy. They also discussed cooperation between public, private, and non-governmental organisations.
Members were updated on the development of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park and doubling the capacity of phase two from 100MW to 200MW, which is one of the largest strategic projects in the world using the IPP model in the renewable energy market. The meeting also viewed the resolution to regulate connection of photovoltaic (PV) panels for the production of electricity from solar power in buildings, and connect them to DEWAs grid, said Al Muhairabi.
