DUBAI: Despite being home to one of the largest oil reserves, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has already started preparing to bid farewell to the last barrel of oil.
The UAE has launched world-class projects to diversify energy resources with a focus on solar energy due to the convenient location of the UAE on the Sunbelt. The second phase of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park that will generate 200 megawatts of clean energy was inaugurated in Dubai on Sunday.
The AED 1.5 billion solar plant generates 200 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 50,000 household and reduces Dubai’s carbon emission by over 200,000 tones.
The UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the phase 2 of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Part at Seih Al Dahal in Dubai.
The solar park is one of the major projects of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa). In January 2012, Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had launched the first phase of Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world based over an area of 77 square kilometres. The solar park has a total planned capacity of 1000MW by 2020, and 5000MW by 2030, with a total investment of AED 50 billion. After completion, the solar park will reduce 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
By 2050, the UAE aims to invest AED 600 billion to meet the growing energy demand and ensure the sustainable growth of the country’s economy. The strategy also seeks to increase efficiency of individuals and organisational demand by 40 percent and achieve savings of AED 700 billion by 2050.
The UAE Energy Strategy 2050 aims to develop an energy mix that combines renewable, nuclear and clean energy sources to balance economic requirements and environmental goals.