Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 was received positively at the COP21

Paris, France, 6 December 2015

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), participated in a discussion panel at the opening of the World Climate Summit at Hotel Potocki in Paris. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Minister of State for Environment in Peru was the keynote speaker at the session.

The discussion panel was moderated by Yves de Boer, Secretary General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and former head of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). John Bryant, Chairman and CEO of Kellogg, Huang Ming, Chairman and CEO of Himin Solar, Anders Runevad, Group President and CEO of Vestas, and John Woolard, Vice President of Energy at Google, participated in the discussion panel.

"We work to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who is leading the global efforts in the field of clean energy. Dubai has set a new milestone in green growth, when His Highness announced the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 last month, with increased targets for clean energy. The Strategy was received positively by the audience t the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21). By 2020, we must generate 7% of Dubai's total power output using solar power. By 2030 this will rise to 25%, generating 5,000 megawatts from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. By 2050, Dubai will produce 75% using clean energy, making Dubai the city with the least carbon footprint city in the world," said Al Tayer.

Al Tayer highlighted Dubai's achievements in implementing best international practices in energy security, energy efficiency and energy demand side management based on the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to reduce energy demand by 30%.

"In Dubai, we are retrofitting 30000 existing buildings and have a strategy to reduce carbon emissions by 16% by 2021. Informing individuals on how to save energy and reduce waste by rationalising electricity and water use is a top priority for a brighter future, for generations to come. Realising the importance of this issue, DEWA has launched the Conservation Awards (for a better tomorrow). Annual campaigns and initiatives also raise society's awareness about preserving natural resources. These initiatives managed to achieve significant successes in saving electricity and water," said Al Tayer.

Al Tayer noted that DEWA adopts the latest technological solutions to ensure the highest levels of availability, reliability, and efficiency in all its services. DEWA's results are one of the best internationally for customer minutes lost per year. DEWA's figures reached 4.9 minutes, which is one of the lowest statistics in the world, compared to 15 minutes recorded by leading international utilities. Losses in power transmission and distribution networks were reduced to 3.26%, compared to 6-7% in Europe and the USA.

"We work to achieve the Smart Dubai initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the smartest city in the world in three years. This is done by through initiatives like Shams Dubai, which aims to put solar panels on the roofs of buildings and houses in Dubai to generate electrical energy, and also by providing smart services that improve quality of life, and reduce the carbon footprint in Dubai to establish its position as a global role model for green economy," added Al Tayer.

"We focus on using smart applications through smart meters and grids. We will provide various benefits for our customers by installing smart meters that provide detailed and accurate readings and provide data to the customers to check their use during certain periods, to better manage their use. DEWA's smart app provides over 150 services and features that ease the lives of all people, including those with special needs, by completing their transactions, anytime, anywhere, to make them happier," added Al Tayer.

"Vision, innovation and action are all essential for success, but the right success is forged in a forward-thinking vision around which a robust strategy is formed, because we all want a brighter future for everyone's children, and for generations to come," concluded Al Tayer.

After the discussion panel, Al Tayer had a meeting with Jonathan Taylor, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, about promoting cooperation in sustainability and knowledge exchange. He also met with Torben Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer of PensionDanmark, who expressed his interest in investment opportunities and mutual cooperation in financing energy projects.

Al Tayer also met Ian McKay, CEO of the Vancouver Economic Commission, and Anders Runevad. They discussed investment and cooperation opportunities in establishing green funds and supporting Dubai in green economy and sustainable development.

-Ends-

For more information, please contact:
Ribal Dayekh or Noora Khoory     
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority 
+971 4 515 1784 
ribal.dayekh@dewa.gov.ae 
noora.khoory@dewa.gov.ae 

              
Jessy Chami or Rawad Khattar
Orient Planet PR
+971 4 4562888
jessy@orientplanet.com
rawad@orientplanet.com

© Press Release 2015