Abu Dhabi has set the target of achieving a 75% reduction in emissions from its power sector by 2035, while also increasing the share of electricity generation from clean and renewable sources to 60%.
Dr. Abdulla Humaid Saif Al Jarwan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), made the announcement to coincide with World Environment Day, noting that the measures form part of the city state’s efforts to strengthen environmental sustainability, improve resource efficiency and support the UAE‘s broader climate neutrality ambitions.
‘Ambitious development journey’
“Abu Dhabi continues its ambitious development journey across all sectors, increasing our responsibility to ensure the sustainability of essential services that support this growth, while fostering a culture of responsible resource consumption in line with sustainability principles,” he said.
Al Jarwan said that the DoE continues to develop policies and regulatory frameworks to enhance the efficiency and resilience of its energy and water sectors, noting that Abu Dhabi has already made significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint, with emissions falling by 42.5 million metric tonnes compared with 2016 levels.
Under its Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalisation Strategy (DSM 2030), Abu Dhabi will seek to reduce electricity consumption by 22% and water consumption by 32% by the end of the decade, equivalent to savings of approximately 19 terawatt-hours of electricity and 485 million cubic metres of water.
This strategy will aim to balance economic growth with the preservation of natural resources, with advanced technologies – particularly AI – set to play a role in improving efficiencies and operational resilience.
Solar and nuclear
Elsewhere, Abdulaziz Mohamed Alhammadi, director general for regulatory affairs at the DoE, said investments in solar power and nuclear energy are helping to bolster energy security in the region, while reducing emissions and supporting sustainable economic growth.
With major investments continuing across green energy, efficiency and advanced technologies, the UAE is ‘moving steadily towards leading a rapid global energy transition that is among the most ambitious and advanced in the region’, he noted. Read more here.
