Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid reviews Dh4bn waste-to-energy project amid emirate's push for clean power

Facility has capacity to generate enough energy to power 135,000 homes

The Dubai Centre for Waste Processing, one of the largest in the world in terms of waste processing capacity, will operate without any negative impact on the environment. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, reviewed a Dh4 billion waste-to-energy project on Saturday and underscored the importance of clean energy sources for the emirate.

During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the Dubai Centre for Waste Processing project, a facility that produces energy by treating waste, according to a statement by the Dubai Media Office.

With a capacity to process 1.9 million tonnes of municipal solid waste per year, the plant will generate 200 megawatts of energy annually – enough to power 135,000 homes.

The project can accommodate 1,000 garbage trucks per day, the statement added.

"Providing a clean environment is at the heart of our efforts to advance development and provide a high quality of life both now and in the future. We have adopted global best practices and implemented innovative projects to preserve our environment and protect the health and safety of people in the UAE,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

The comments came during a review of Dubai Municipality’s environmental and sustainability projects being developed at a cost of Dh6.6bn.

The plant, one of the largest in the world in terms of waste processing capacity, will operate without any negative impact on the environment and will be capable of processing 5,666 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day.

Located in the Warsan area of Dubai, the first phase of the project will be completed in 2023 and the entire project will be completed in 2024.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports and Emirates, attended the project review.

Created to serve Dubai's current and future waste management and green energy requirements, the project consists of a waste weighing unit, 15 reception points, five furnaces, a steam and power generation zone, 10,000 gas processing units, 27 gates and a zone for extracting metal from incinerated waste.

Dubai aims to generate 25 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050 as part of its clean energy drive.

The UAE is expected to meet more than 50 per cent of its power needs from renewable sources by 2050 due to the addition of nuclear and solar power to grid, Awaidha Al Marar, the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy said in September.

The country aims to achieve at least half of its energy needs from clean energy sources by 2050.

The UAE is diversifying its energy mix, adding solar and nuclear sources to its grid, as it looks to free up crude for export.

The country has also ramped up nationwide efforts to increase its renewable energy capacity at a time of record low oil prices.

Earlier this year, the UAE connected Unit 1 of the Barakah nuclear power plant to grid, with the plant currently operating at 50 per cent capacity.