UNFCCC gives thumbs up to DEWA’s solar power plan

Dubai / WAM

The UAE’s solar power programme, the UAE Solar Programme of Activities (PoA), has been approved by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Board. The PoA was initiated by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) in collaboration with Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, Dubai Carbon, to promote the development of solar power in the UAE and make it easier to register projects under the Clean Development Mechanism, CDM.
The CDM Executive Board has approved the request for registration, and the PoA will be registered as a CDM PoA after taking into consideration comments and suggestions received through public consultations up to July 5. This accreditation means that any solar energy project in the UAE can register to be a part of this programme.
Dubai’s target for 2020 is to produce 7 percent of the emirate’s total power output from solar power. Dubai is on track to produce this, with the first three phases of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which will generate 1,000MW by 2020 using photovoltaic technologies. The park will eventually generate 5,000MW by 2030, which will make up 25 percent of Dubai’s total power output.
“We are pleased to have the support of the UN to implement the ambitions of Dubai as a whole. The PoA is our commitment to Shams Dubai and the UAE to pursue a brighter future for generations to come. DEWA contributes to the Emirate’s sustainability by implementing large-scale energy projects, developing renewable and alternative energy sources, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of energy and water networks,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of
Energy and MD and CEO of DEWA.
“DEWA supports Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to reduce the carbon footprint of the emirate and the UAE, contributing to mitigating the effects of global warming. The Clean Development Mechanism is the first global, environmental investment and offset scheme of its kind. The CDM allows emission-reduction projects in developing countries to earn certified emission reduction, CER, credits, each equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide. These CERs can be traded and sold in international specialised markets. The UAE’s small scale PoA is a voluntary step by DEWA that coordinates and implements projects that reduce emissions. Shams Dubai will help participants to earn carbon credits equal to the emissions reduced by their respective projects,” added Al Tayer.
The small scale PoA will facilitate the finance of projects and environmental programmes by certifying emission reductions by owners and developers of solar projects in the UAE, based on the UNFCC’s mechanism. The PoA will also officially support Shams Dubai, which is one of the nine programmes to drive sustainability that is part of the Demand Side Management Strategy launched by the Supreme Council of Energy.
“As an enabler of change towards a green economy, the role of the PoA is to standardise and facilitate the maturity of carbon abatement processes and services in our everyday activities, and further strengthen public-private partnerships even more than today,” commented Waleed Salman , Chairman of Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (Dubai Carbon).
The solar photovoltaic 2MW project at the Dubai International Humanitarian City has been confirmed as the first CDM Project Activity (CPA) under the PoA. The projects are all being implemented through Shams Dubai, which is a smart initiative by DEWA to encourage building owners to install photovoltaic panels to generate electricity and connect them to DEWA’s grid.