UAE continues its leadership in clean energy with huge and ambitious projects
Huge investments in renewable energy:
The UAE’s renewable energy sector has seen significant growth over the past two years, with the country adding seven new projects worth $2.16 billion across a variety of renewable technologies including waste-to-energy and geothermal energy.
The UAE will also operate up to 13 solar energy projects by the end of this year, contributing 10.6 gigawatts to the energy mix by the end of this year 2024, as the country continues to develop new projects to exploit the abundance of solar radiation throughout the year, according to the Emirates News Agency ( WAM ).
Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park:
The Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park is the largest single-site strategic renewable energy project in the world. It is a multi-phase project that aims to reach a total production capacity of 5,000 megawatts, which will significantly contribute to enhancing the UAE’s renewable energy capacity.
McPherson pointed out that the complex recently opened the fifth phase and is currently on schedule to start the sixth phase by the end of the year, stressing that this project, along with other projects in the nuclear energy sector, demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to diversifying energy sources and moving towards a more sustainable future.
On the sidelines of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) , which was held this year in Dubai at the end of last year, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, launched the largest concentrated solar power project in the world , as part of the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai.
The project extends over a total area of 44 square kilometres, with investments amounting to 15.78 billion dirhams, and uses 70,000 mirrors (heliostats) that track the movement of the sun, and includes the tallest concentrated solar power tower in the world at a height of 263 metres.
It also includes the largest thermal energy storage capacity in the world, with a capacity of 5,907 megawatts/hour, according to Guinness World Records, and will reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million tons annually, enhancing Dubai’s role as a leading global hub in the field of clean and renewable energy and climate action.
Wind and green hydrogen: key pillars of the energy mix:
In addition to solar energy, the UAE is paying great attention to wind energy and green hydrogen, as it began operating three onshore wind farms last year with a total capacity of 99 megawatts, including projects on Sir Bani Yas Island, Dalma and Al Sila.
In addition, the UAE Wind Energy Programme focuses on developing modern wind technologies across the country, enhancing the future of wind energy as part of the energy mix.
The UAE also aims to produce 1.4 million tons of hydrogen annually by 2031, placing it at the forefront of green and blue hydrogen producing countries. These initiatives come as part of the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in the field of hydrogen, with a focus on developing large-scale projects and advanced technologies to promote the use of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source.
An ambitious strategy for a sustainable future:
The UAE Energy Strategy 2050 is based on diversifying energy sources and shifting towards clean and renewable sources. The country has allocated a huge budget of $54 billion to achieve the goals of this strategy, reflecting its commitment to achieving a more sustainable future.
Hence, the UAE’s massive investments and ambitious projects in the clean energy sector confirm its firm commitment to the transition to a sustainable economy. These efforts are expected to contribute to strengthening the UAE’s position as a global hub for renewable energy, and providing a more sustainable future for generations to come.