UAE’s clean energy share reaches 27.83% of total mix, minister says

Installed renewable energy capacity grew 70 per cent last year

From 2019 to 2022, the UAE succeeded in doubling its renewable energy capacity, according to Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. Victor Besa / The National

Clean energy production accounted for 27.83 per cent of the UAE's total energy mix last year, marking a significant milestone in the push towards climate change goals, the energy and infrastructure minister said.

Suhail Al Mazrouei spoke as the UAE government seeks to hit a 2030 target that would see 30 per cent of energy come from clean sources.

As of last week, the four-reactor Barakah nuclear power plant is fully operational, while a heavy investment into solar energy is paying off. Prior to this, more than 95 per cent of the UAE's power came from gas-fired plants.

From 2019 to 2022, the Emirates succeeded in doubling its renewable energy capacity as part of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 to triple the installed capacity by 2030, the minister told state news agency Wam, ahead of the World Utilities Congress, which gets under way in Abu Dhabi on Monday,

He added that last year, the UAE achieved growth of 70 per cent in installed renewable energy capacity, which reached 6.1 gigawatts.

The UAE, Opec's third-largest producer, has been investing heavily in clean energy projects, ranging from nuclear to solar, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Arab world’s second-largest economy announced the updated version of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the development of the National Hydrogen Strategy that were approved by the UAE Cabinet in July last year.

Under the updated objectives of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, the country will invest between Dh150 billion and Dh200 billion by 2030 to ensure energy demand is met while sustaining economic growth in the UAE.

These projects include the 1.8 gigawatts phase VI of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the second phase of Dubai’s waste-to-energy project, and two major photovoltaic projects – the 1.5 gigawatts Al Ajban and the 1.5 gigawatts Al Khazna – both in Abu Dhabi.

A hydroelectric power plant in Hatta and the recently commissioned fourth reactor at the Barakah plant are set to make significant contributions, he said.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, about 50km south of Dubai. AP

He emphasised the importance of Adnoc's carbon management projects in the UAE's climate change strategy.

Adnoc is leading the way in implementing carbon capture and storage technologies, with the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2045. As part of this initiative, Adnoc aims to increase its carbon capture capacity to 10 million tonnes annually by 2030.

The minister added that in April last year, the Cabinet approved a policy to regulate the UAE's energy services market, enhancing collaboration between energy services firms, government entities, and the private sector.

“The policy aims to develop the UAE's energy services market through public-private partnerships, promoting investment in energy efficiency and renewable projects, supporting the National Energy and Water Demand Side Management Programme 2050, and fostering sustainable economic development,” he said.

Renewable energy is the cheapest and reduces the levelised cost of electricity – the average cost of generating power over the lifetime of a power plant – Mr Al Mazrouei said in April during a panel session at the World Economic Forum’s special meeting in Riyadh.

The UAE may surpass its target of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 due to low clean energy prices and as more solar capacity is installed to produce green hydrogen, he said at the time.

In 2021, the UAE unveiled its Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative, a Dh600 billion plan to invest in clean and renewable energy sources over the next three decades.

It was the first Gulf country to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050.