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DUBAI / WAM
Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, has reiterated the UAE’s commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by
70 percent and increase clean energy use by 50 percent by 2050 during the inaugural Middle East Energy virtual event.
“Today, renewables alongside new technologies and services are transforming the business of supplying and delivering power. For this energy transition, a more responsive and interconnected power system is emerging. This changing energy landscape offers new opportunities for both leadership and action,†Suhail Al Mazrouei told the audience.
“Over the past 50 years, the UAE has been at the forefront of the ongoing energy transition in the region and among leading nations worldwide. We were among the first nations to ratify the Paris Agreement, thereby showing our commitment to the efforts toward a low carbon economy, which requires a low carbon energy system,†he added.
Yousif Al Ali, Assistant Under-Secretary – Electricity, Water and Future Energy Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, who discussed the UAE carbon capture programme, said, “The UAE is well-positioned to be one of the top producers of hydrogen in the world. The UAE is committed and working with confidence to reduce the nationwide carbon footprint, by working on the demand side, supply-side and working on our different energies and future technologies to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Other notable speakers included Mohammed Angawi, Regional Climate Change Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) West Asia; David Rennie, Global Head of Energy, Scottish Development International (SDI); Eva Ramos Torreblanca, Director – Environmental Analysis and Economics, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi; and Farid Al Awlaqi, Executive Director – Generation, TAQA Global – with all underscoring a commitment to low carbon, renewables and clean energy through solar, wind and tidal as well as green hydrogen.
Elsewhere on the agenda on the opening day were high-level discussions and presentations, including ‘Realising the potential of green hydrogen – will this be the game-changer for the energy transition’. The use of solar was highlighted in the session ‘Increasing output of solar panels: latest innovations in PV module design and installation’, which was led by Daniel Barandalla, Solar Advisory Lead EMEA, UL Renewables.