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Paris, France: Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA)'s stand at the exhibition within the 21st Conference of the Parties to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) taking place in Paris until 11 December 2015 is drawing large crowds of visitors, who have shown great interest in DEWA's latest achievements that focus on innovation as a major pillar of government work. DEWA is showcasing its current and future projects and programmes related to energy efficiency, renewable and clean energy, innovation and sustainability, as well as its latest smart services and initiatives. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD&CEO of DEWA was received by Michel Vilair, Managing Director of Reed Exhibitions, the organiser of the accompanying exhibition of COP 21.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, one of the biggest strategic new projects in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) concept, has been attracting curious visitors, and energy and environment experts alike. The solar park will generate 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity by 2020 and 5,000 MW by 2030.
COP21 is an important occasion, as the world's leaders work together to reach a new international agreement on climate change and discuss the practical steps for addressing the climate change phenomenon and its effects.
"Our participation in this international event comes in line with the wise leadership's vision as part of our strategy aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and position of Dubai and the UAE on the international arena and attracting investments in energy sector," said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.
"At COP21 exhibition, we display DEWA's strategies and achievements and shed light on the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 launched by H.H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the end of UAE Innovation Week, to make Dubai an international hub for clean energy and a green economy. The goal of this strategy is to increase the percentage of clean energy in the Emirate to 7% by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050.One of the biggest projects of DEWA is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, one of the biggest single-site solar energy projects in the world, which is being developed based on an Independent Power Producer (IPP) agreement in cooperation with the private sector. The solar park's capacity will be 5,000 MW by 2030, and it will help reduce 4 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030,supporting the green initiatives and programmes carried out by the government to reduce carbon emissions," added Al Tayer.
Al Tayer said: "DEWA is committed to operating the solar park, the first phase of which started on 22 October 2013 with a capacity of 13 MW, while the second phase, which will generate 200 MW will start by 2017. This park includes an interactive innovation centre, and an R&D centre that will test different photovoltaic (PV) panels and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies."
He added: "We are also showcasing DEWA's smart initiatives that support the 'Smart City' initiative to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world, improve the quality of life and achieve sustainable development in the Emirate. The first initiative is Shams Dubai, which encourages tenants, residential and commercial building owners to install PV panels on rooftops to generate solar power and connect it with DEWA's grid. This will help diversify energy resources, promote the use of renewable energy, and increase the latter's percentage in total electricity production. The second initiative is 'Smart Applications and Meters' which uses smart applications to speed up service connection, improve response times, and encourage more rational consumption of energy.
DEWA has implemented a strategy and a roadmap of smart electricity and water grids worth AED 7 million to build a solid infrastructure to better support energy demand management and connect renewable energy resources. DEWA has begun laying out the infrastructure for smart meters and it plans to install more than one million new units of these advanced meters for new subscriptions, with the existing mechanical and electro-mechanical units scheduled for replacement in the coming years. The third initiative, which is the "Green Charger", will establish the necessary infrastructure to build 100 charging stations for electric vehicles this year.
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For more information, please contact:
Ribal Dayekh or Noora Khoory Jessy Chami or Rawad Khattar
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Orient Planet PR
+971 4 515 1784 +971 4 4562888
ribal.dayekh@dewa.gov.ae jessy@orientplanet.com
noora.khoory@dewa.gov.ae rawad@orientplanet.com
© Press Release 2015
