#WorldGovSummit.. Dubai is attracting private sector to innovate in clean energy says, MD & CEO of DEWA

DUBAI, 8th February, 2016 (WAM) -- Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), noted that Dubai provides the perfect environment for the private sector to actively contribute to renewable energy projects and achieve success.

Al Tayer made the statement during a plenary session on the first day of the World Government Summit. Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens AG, shared the session with Al Tayer. The session titled ?How Clean Tech is shaping the Future of Energy? was moderated by John Defterios, CNN?s Emerging Markets Editor. The session saw a wide attendance from the World Government Summit participants and the media.

Al Tayer noted that discussing renewable energy at this year?s World Government Summit, underlines the importance the UAE is attaching to renewable and clean energy. President and CEO of Siemens AG hailed the UAE?s efforts and its futuristic vision in energy sector.

"At DEWA, we have an integrated vision in energy sector that focuses on energy security through diversifying its resources, the latest technologies, energy storage, CO2 capturing, increasing efficiency in the production, transmission, and distribution of electricity and water," added Al Tayer.

Al Tayer highlighted the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, launched by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to provide 7 per cent of Dubai?s energy from clean sources by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050. Al Tayer also reviewed DEWA?s efforts to achieve the vision of His Highness and make Dubai a global hub for clean energy and green economy, and the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world. Al Tayer shared DEWA?s experience in increasing use of renewable energy. This includes the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar energy project in the world, based on the independent power producer model. The solar park will produce 1,000 MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by 2030 with a total investment of AED 50 billion. It will help achieve a reduction of approximately 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, which supports Dubai Government?s green initiatives and programmes.

Al Tayer pointed that Dewa adopts smart grids that includes demand-side management, asset management, distribution automation, substation automation, system integration, and smart meters, of total AED 7 billion investments. DEWA?s efforts in energy efficiency have contributed to achieving several milestones globally, surpassing major European and American companies in different areas. Losses in power transmission and distribution networks is 3.26 per cent, compared to 6-7 per cent in Europe and the USA. Water network losses is 8.26 per cent, compared to 15 per cent in North America. Customer minutes lost per year reached 3.87 minutes, compared to 15 minutes recorded by leading utilities in the European Union.

The Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 focuses on energy security by diversifying the energy mix, and reducing energy and water use by 30 per cent by 2030. DEWA invests in 9 programmes as part of the demand-side management strategy. These include green building regulations, retrofitting existing buildings, district cooling, wastewater reuse, laws and standards to raise efficiency, energy-efficient street-lighting, and Shams Dubai, which encourages building owners to install photovoltaic panels to generate electricity.