Al Tayer highlights DEWA’s latest innovative initiatives at WGS

 Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, delivered a speech on ‘Innovative Electricity and Water Generation Projects to Improve Efficiency’ at the 5th World Government Summit, which is held under the patronage of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Al Tayer talked about DEWA’s preemptive plans to anticipate the future with its key initiatives and innovative projects to improve the efficiency of electricity and water generation. DEWA is the Sustainable Energy Partner of the summit, on 12 to 14 February 2017, with the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments.’ "I am pleased to be here today at the World Government Summit, held under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is the sustainable energy partner of the summit. Energy plays a vital role in the life of every individual, and is a pivotal challenge faced by the world today. Energy affects every aspect of life, including, job opportunities, security, climate change, the diversity of income, and, of course, sustainable development. According to the State of the Future report, launched earlier this year by the Dubai Future Academy in Davos, Switzerland, there are 1.3 billion people without electricity, while the world is trying to combat the effects of 40 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. These contribute to the Earth’s increasing temperature, resulting in global warming," said Al Tayer.

"These issues are key discussion points among world governments to ensure energy security and sustainability, to make it affordable to everyone and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals to provide safe, sustainable, and affordable energy for all. The UAE has pioneered the implementation of strategies to make renewable energy the largest share of its energy mix, and improving energy efficiency and demand side management. This is a result of the forward-thinking vision of the wise leadership, led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, considering that the UAE is one of the largest oil-producing countries in the world. I would like to mention the words of Sheikh Mohammed, who once observed that, "The future is not something we wait for, but something we make." he said.

" I would also like to echo the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, about the UAE making early preparations to bid farewell to the last drop of oil. Our wise leadership believes that the implementation of our future policies will depend on the development of creative ideas and innovative solutions by the people of the UAE, who are the nation’s true wealth. This vision reflects a well-defined government approach to meet the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and develop an effective future government. Rapid developments in innovation such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Robots, are also integrated and closely connected with sustainable development," added Al Tayer.

"Today, our country proudly celebrates world-class achievements and continues to maintain the global pace of proactive innovation to achieve social happiness, in adherence with the UAE Vision 2021 and the Dubai Plan 2021. In Dubai, we have adopted a holistic vision for the energy sector, covering issues such as energy security, energy efficiency, sustainability and its rational use. This will contribute to achieving the objectives set by the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50per cent by 2050. The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 aims to provide 7per cent of Dubai’s energy from clean energy sources by 2020. This target will increase to 25per cent by 2030, and to 75per cent by 2050."

This will transform Dubai into an international hub for clean energy and green economy, and make it the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world. We are working to achieve the Demand Side Management Strategy, to reduce energy and water demand by 30per cent by 2030, and the Carbon Abatement Strategy to reduce carbon emissions by 16per cent by 2021. The UAE’s interest in producing renewable energy has contributed to the decline of its global cost. Renewable energy is growing cheaper to produce, with bid prices for solar and wind power projects in Europe and the Middle East dropping to levels comparable with coal-fired thermal power, according to a recent Japanese study published by the Nikkei Asian Review," noted Al Tayer.