UAE can save billions with solar energy, Irena report says


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The UAE could realise billions of dirhams in potential savings if it develops solar energy projects ahead of other sources including natural gas, according to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency.

If the UAE can boost its renewable energy capacity to 10 per cent of its total energy mix - and 25 per cent of power generation - it could save US$1.9 billion annually by 2030 by reducing consumption of fossil fuels amid “rapidly increasing natural gas prices and decreasing renewable energy costs”.

“When accounting for health and environmental benefits additional net annual savings of $1bn to $3.7bn by 2030 could be generated,” said the Renewable Energy Roadmap 2030 report released by Irena, Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

However, to achieve this Abu Dhabi will need to be at the forefront of renewable energy efforts in the country, according to Masdar Institute’s Steve Griffiths.

“To get the entire energy system for the UAE up to 10 per cent of renewables, Abu Dhabi is going to have to become deeply involved,” said Mr Griffiths, the executive director of institute initiatives. “Abu Dhabi was one of the starting points with Masdar City, but [the emirate] has to push along with Dubai to get a much higher level of solar energy into the system.”

The emirate hopes renewable energy will account for 7 per cent of its power generation by 2020, while Dubai aims for 15 per cent by 2030.

“[The report] makes the clear case that renewables, and especially solar, will have a much larger role sooner than we ever expected in the UAE,” said Fred Moavenzadeh, president of the Masdar Institute.

Thani Al Zeyoudi, climate change director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the development of renewables would support energy security, reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and job creation.

“We are investing broadly and letting technologies compete to produce the optimal supply mix,” he said.

The planned 100 megawatts Nour 1 solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, east of Al Ain, could be a major step forward for Abu Dhabi. The Nour 1, first announced in 2011, is just the first phase of a 300MW solar park to be operated by Masdar.

The terms of the tender for the Nour 1 project are expected to be critical to get the ball rolling on more renewable energy schemes, according to Mr Griffiths.

“What people want to see out of the Nour 1 is when the tender goes out,” said.

The initial bids were received in 2011, and despite delays Masdar Clean Energy’s director, Bader Al Lamki, said in January that the first phase would move ahead “more aggressively” this year.

The cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has already dropped by 80 per cent since 2008 and the record low price achieved for the recently awarded 200MW phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar PV park in Dubai has been considered a watershed for the technology.

The 5.84 US cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) price compares to about 9 US cents for power produced via natural gas – which accounts for 98 per cent of power generation in this country.

lgraves@thenational.ae

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

How to improve Arabic reading in early years

One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient

The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers

Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades

Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic

First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations

Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades

Improve the appearance of textbooks

Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings

Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught

Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

RESULT

Bournemouth 0 Southampton 3 (Djenepo (37', Redmond 45' 1, 59')

Man of the match Nathan Redmond (Southampton)

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.

  • It’s So Easy
  • Mr Brownstone
  • Chinese Democracy
  • Welcome to the Jungle
  • Double Talkin’ Jive
  • Better
  • Estranged
  • Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
  • Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
  • Rocket Queen
  • You Could Be Mine
  • Shadow of Your Love
  • Attitude (Misfits cover)
  • Civil War
  • Coma
  • Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
  • Sweet Child O’ Mine
  • Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
  • Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
  • November Rain
  • Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
  • Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
  • Nightrain

Encore:

  • Patience
  • Don’t Cry
  • The Seeker (The Who cover)
  • Paradise City
The biog

Name: Salvador Toriano Jr

Age: 59

From: Laguna, The Philippines

Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips

Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

Company%20profile
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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
INFO

Everton 0

Arsenal 0

Man of the Match: Djibril Sidibe (Everton)

ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
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EA Sports FC 25
if you go

The flights

Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav. 

The tour

While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).

 

Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
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The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20750hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20800Nm%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%207%20Speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20332kph%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012.2L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYear%20end%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1%2C430%2C000%20(coupe)%3B%20From%20Dh1%2C566%2C000%20(Spider)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Company%20Profile
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