Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, stated that his ministry established the characteristics of the energy sector’s future for the upcoming 50 years. — The UAE’s clean energy production in 2021 totaled 7,035.75 megawatts (MW). The Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Wam Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, stated that his ministry established the characteristics of the energy sector’s future for the next fifty years. — Released by Wam by Wam: Sun, January 15, 2023, 3:13 p.m. According to a top UAE official, the country will continue to invest in green and clean energy developments in the years to come. In 2022, the UAE launched 11 environmentally friendly energy projects worth Dh159 billion.
Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei stated that the UAE’s clean energy production in 2021 totaled 7,035.75 megawatts (MW), highlighting the nation’s pioneering efforts in the clean energy sector.
Al Mazrouei talked about the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 in an interview with the Emirates News Agency (Wam). This is the first unified energy strategy for the UAE. It aims to reduce reliance on other fuel sources over the next three decades while also integrating renewable and clean energy sources to strike a balance between economic needs and climate goals.
“Noting that the UAE was among the first countries to ratify the Paris Agreement, the UAE has adopted, in order to ensure the sustainability of the renewable energy sector, the latest innovations that drive the path of sustainable development,” the minister stated.
Al Mazrouei noted that the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure revised the National Energy Strategy 2050, drafted the National Hydrogen Strategy, and relied on previous achievements to determine the characteristics of the energy sector’s future for the next fifty years.
The minister emphasized that clean energy would make up 19.63 percent of the energy mix in 2021, while renewable energy would make up 12% and peaceful nuclear energy would make up 7.55 percent.
He added, “The global turmoil in energy supplies has created challenges related to energy security and will, therefore, lead to a focus on using the lowest-priced resources available locally, with an increase in exports in the non-oil sector from the UAE, to meet the country’s energy requirements.”
He affirmed that the rise of renewables necessitates upgrades to transportation and investments in storage technologies in order to consistently meet energy needs, noting that the UAE has a significant potential in the field of solar power and that the low cost of solar power will enhance the country’s energy security, competitiveness, and carbon neutrality.
He stated, “Long-term storage technologies will play a major role in decarbonising the grid in a reliable and affordable manner with the expected decrease in storage costs and their commercialization.”
A general view of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant can be seen on a handout image. It is located in the Gharbiya area of Abu Dhabi, about 50 kilometers west of Ruwais, on the Gulf coast. Al Mazrouei emphasized that the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant is a pioneering and cutting-edge energy project in the energy transition process. A general view of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi’s Gharbiya region, 50 kilometers to the west of Ruwais, can be seen in this handout image. Al Mazrouei emphasized that the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant is a pioneering and cutting-edge energy project in the energy transition process. Al Mazrouei highlighted several related factors that will drive prices in 2023, such as the end of China’s zero-Covid policy, the decision by the US to refill the strategic oil reserve, the sanctions imposed on Russian seaborne oil products, and ongoing global inflation, when discussing the performance of international oil markets in 2023.
The minister also talked about other things that could hurt prices, like the global recession, China’s lower demand for oil, and the return of Russia-European trade.
Al Mazrouei emphasized that the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant is a pioneering and groundbreaking energy transition project. Its four reactors will offset 22.4 million tonnes of annual carbon emissions, the primary cause of climate change, once they are fully operational.
He went on to say, “The new successes and progress achieved during the process of developing the four Barakah reactors, the first multi-station peaceful nuclear energy project in operation in the Arab world, play a key role in reducing the carbon footprint of the UAE’s energy sector, in order to reach climate neutrality by 2050.”
The minister said that the third reactor will add 1,400 MW of carbon-free electricity to the UAE’s electricity grid once it is commercially operational. This will help the UAE achieve energy security and fight climate change, the minister said. The UAE’s significant capabilities in the drafting and management of major projects are made clear by the Barakah plant’s numerous accomplishments.
Al Mazrouei affirmed that the United Arab Emirates is paving the way for other carbon-free energy sources, including hydrogen, noting that the nation’s hydrogen strategy is based on 10 key pillars and will assist it in achieving its goal of becoming one of the top 10 hydrogen producers by 2031. The UAE is a model for developing mini reactors and a new generation of reactors.
“Refineries currently produce and utilize 0.3 million tonnes of gray hydrogen annually. However, there are more than ten ongoing Dewa/Siemens pilot projects that make use of blue hydrogen-based ammonia that is exported to Germany and Japan. Seven of these projects are major development projects, while others are undergoing feasibility studies, he added.
Al Mazrouei stated that Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) is supporting the global sustainability efforts and the UAE’s efforts to host COP28. He also mentioned ADSW’s role in supporting the preparations for COP28.
