Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 12 - The Indian EYE 050826
P. 12

    OPINION                                                                   MAY 08, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 12

                  UAE’s Renewable Energy

                              Transition: the Past,

                                Present and Future

                The UAE has built one of the world’s most structured clean energy transitions in the Gulf.
              The UAE’s renewable energy push is driven by technological innovation, huge investments in

                                   ambitious renewable energy projects and foreign collaborations.

            WARISHA WASI                                                                                          launched the Al Dhafra solar PV
                                                                                                                  Project in 2023, which is the world’s
                  he Gulf countries are  formu-                                                                   largest single-site solar power plant.
                  lating energy policies and im-                                                                  It has emerged as a pioneering proj-
            Tplementing strategies to transi-                                                                     ect with a 2 GW capacity for clean
            tion from a resource-based economy                                                                    power generation, supplying electric-
            to  a  diversified,  renewable-energy                                                                 ity to 200,000 homes. By developing
            economy. Historically, oil-producing                                                                  local renewable capacity, the UAE
            nations in West Asia have received                                                                    can buttress against price volatility
            political and economic leverage due                                                                   and external power disruptions.
            to their geostrategic locations and oil                                                                   Dubai’s   Mohammed      Bin
            reserves. As the international ener-                                                                  Al-Makhtoum Solar Park serves
            gy market undergoes transformative                                                                    as the infrastructural backbone of
            change, countries with rentier econ-                                                                  Dubai’s clean energy initiative. Based
            omies  focus  on  economic  diversifi-                                                                on the Independent Power Produc-
            cation  and  on  strengthening  global                                                                er (IPP) Model, the solar park has
            energy governance through coopera-                                                                    a production capacity of 3,860MW,
            tion and diplomacy to address envi-      Source: Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, Washington, DC, 2023 (IDSA)  which will exceed to 8000MW by
            ronmental and energy-security impli-                                                                  2030. The project has emerged as a
            cations.                                                                                              significant milestone in Dubai’s long-
                The United Arab Emirates      ment strategy in 2010 with the launch   provide leverage through long-term   term energy strategy. Dubai Electric-
            (UAE) is emerging as one of the fast-  of ‘Vision 2021’—a long-term plan   purchase agreements and invest-  ity and Water Authority (DEWA)
            est-growing markets for renewables,   focused on environmental sustain-  ments in sustainable technologies.   and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Com-
            driven by technological innovation,   ability and the transition to a diversi-  To triple the contribution of renew-  pany (Masdar) have collaborated to
            huge  investments  in  ambitious  re-  fied knowledge-based economy. The   able energy and increase the share of   implement the current sixth phase of
            newable energy projects and foreign   UAE’s energy transition originated   renewable energy sources to 30 per   the solar park to support the UAE
            collaborations. The country is ex-  with the establishment of Masdar,   cent in its energy mix by 2030 under   Energy Strategy 2050.
            panding its energy sources, leading to   also known as Abu Dhabi Future   the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, the   The nuclear power generation
            diversification in its energy mix and   Energy Company, in 2006, marking   UAE transition framework focuses   capacity is rising significantly in the
            economy. Under its National Energy   a major milestone in the country’s   on policy implementation, regulato-  UAE’s current energy mix. The
            Strategy 2050, the UAE is committed   systematic expansion of renewable   ry tools and technological advance-  Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is
            to contributing up to AED 200 bil-  energy policy. Progressively, Mas-  ments.                        the first nuclear energy plant in the
            lion to the renewable energy sector   dar, a state-owned renewable energy   The  UAE’s  flagship  projects   Arab world. The four reactors, which
            by 2030. To meet growing energy de-  company, shaped the UAE’s national   pave the way for the country’s initia-  are currently operational, generate
            mand, the country plans to generate   framework for energy security, which   tives to be operationalised as  clean   about 4 terawatt-hour (TWh) of en-
            most of its electricity from renewable   prioritised  energy  diversification,   energy systems. Noor Abu Dhabi,   ergy annually. The Barakah plant
            sources, primarily solar power.  The   global expansion and strategic in-  a solar plant with a total capacity of   was developed by Emirates Nuclear
            UAE’s installed renewable ener-   vestment.                         1.2 GW, is one of the first projects to   Energy Corporation (ENEC) with
            gy capacity surpassed 7.7 gigawatts   Solar energy is the fastest-grow-  supply clean energy while simulta-  a consortium led by Korea Electric
            (GW) in April 2026.               ing sector in the UAE’s energy mix.   neously contributing to the goals of   Power Corporation (KEPCO). The
                The UAE has built one of the   Large-scale renewable energy proj-  the UAE’s energy strategy 2050 by   electricity generated by the nuclear
            world’s most structured clean energy   ects not only demonstrate the coun-  reducing carbon emissions in power   power  plant  reflects  the  UAE’s  di-
            transitions in the Gulf. The UAE im-  try’s adoption of sustainable alterna-  generation. In an  effort  to  achieve   versifying energy mix and contributes
            plemented its first national develop-  tives for power generation but also   clean energy solutions, the UAE   Continued on next page... >>

                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 |