At WETEX, UAE shows commitment towards green energy solutions

Dubai / WAM

The 18th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2016 reflects the vision and wise leadership of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the UAE’s determination to become an inspiring model for other countries in the world in green innovation, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), organisers of the event, said on Saturday.
The event was organised in line with directives from H.H. Sheikh Mohammed and under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of the DEWA, from October 4-6 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
In a report on the event, the organisers noted that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid launched a long-term national initiative in 2012 to build a green economy in the UAE with the theme ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development’, for the UAE to become one of the world’s leading countries in green economy, and a centre for the export and re-export of green products and technologies.
This initiative maintains a sustainable environment that supports long-term economic growth as it covers a full range of programmes and policies in energy, agriculture, investment and sustainable transport. Relevantly, Dubai has launched last year, Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, aimed to increase the share of clean energy in the energy mix in Dubai to reach 75 percent by 2030.
Green energy solutions and technologies took centre stage during WETEX 2016 which reiterates Dubai’s pioneering role in showcasing the significance of green energy to the world. The exhibition was organised at a time when the number of jobs in the global renewable energy industry grew by 5 per cent in 2015, the DEWA noted.
Citing figures released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the DEWA said clean energy companies employed 8.1 million people worldwide last year, up from 7 million the previous year. Some 1.3 million people are working in the hydropower industry, which IRENA counts separately because numbers fluctuate so sharply from year to year.
IRENA’s figures reflect a global shift that has seen renewable power soar in big Asian markets contrary to EU markets, where green energy jobs decreased, the DEWA noted.
The report shows that China is the world’s biggest renewable energy market, where green power companies employed 3.5m people in 2015
The report said today’s 8.1 million renewable energy jobs should increase to more than 24 million by 2030, anticipating a doubling in the share of renewables in the global energy mix. The solar panel industry had the lion’s share in renewables employment worldwide in 2015, with 2.8 million jobs. It was followed by liquid biofuels, with 1.7 million jobs and wind power, which employed 1.1 million people.
In the European Union, Germany stands out with 355,000 people working in the renewable energy sector, which is nearly as many as the UK, Italy, and France combined.
WETEX 2016 attracted a large number of trade visitors from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, China, Japan, Turkey, Canada, France, Germany, India, Malaysia, United States and other countries, who came to share their experiences and offer latest technological developments in energy, environment and water.
The exhibition also hosted a series of seminars on effective energy sources management, and dissemination of renewable energy solutions. These seminars have given views on the challenges, solutions and technological innovations to rationally use and sustain energy.
Seminars held on the last day of WETEX 2016 explored ways of energy storage and use. They also displayed the UAE’s experience in renewable energy and opened the floor for expertise and best practices exchange. Furthermore, WETEX 2016 attracted a large number of schools, delegations and universities that reviewed their projects related to rational consumption of environmental resources and sustainability throughout three days.
“We are delighted with the great success of the 18th WETEX, which has proven that it is an ideal demonstration of latest green and renewable energy solutions as it garners international participations,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Founder and Chairman of WETEX.
“The UAE and the emirate of Dubai are supporting green initiatives, smart projects and green practices across various economic and vital sectors in order to achieve sustainable development. We have held a series of meetings and workshops that have brought decision makers, investors in energy, water and environment sectors and local and international experts under one roof to review efforts aiming at preserving the environmental resources and finding alternative sources of energy. DEWA seeks to enhance its leadership position to contribute in the global efforts of saving natural resources for us and generation to come,” Al Tayer added.