EAD and DoE drive change in Abu Dhabi’s energy mix

Sharm El Sheikh – The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD), in partnership with the Department of Energy (DoE), is leading a fundamental shift in Abu Dhabi’s energy mix to significantly reduce the UAE’s carbon emissions.

This will be achieved through new regulations aimed at generating the majority of Abu Dhabi’s electricity by 2035 from clean and renewable energy, marking a major milestone in the UAE’s journey to carbon neutrality by 2050.

According to new regulations drafted by the U.S. Department of Energy, by 2035, 60 percent of the UAE’s electricity will come from clean and renewable energy sources, reducing the power sector’s carbon emissions per megawatt-hour by 75 percent.

The US Department of Energy’s “Abu Dhabi Power Generation Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035” regulatory framework is the first legally binding clean and renewable energy target for the Middle East power sector. It is part of the ongoing energy transition to accelerate decarbonisation and green growth efforts in the UAE.

The new rules were announced by the Secretary-General of the EAD, HE Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, along with the Chairman of the US Department of Energy, Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, during a press conference at the UN’s annual climate summit, COP27, in Egypt.

Al Dhaheri said the new regulations will promote economic diversification, attract domestic and foreign investment, and encourage technology development and innovation in the clean and renewable energy sector.

“The target of producing 60% of electricity using clean energy by 2035 is an important step towards achieving the UAE’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Planned investments of billions of dirhams in clean energy infrastructure will help us move towards low The transition to a carbon economy has positive environmental and social outcomes. As members of the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Task Force, we at EAD are working closely with 26 Abu Dhabi entities, including the Ministry of Energy, to develop climate change policy and related strategies plans to make this transition happen.”

Al Dhaheri said the new regulations will help strengthen EAD’s efforts within the framework of its commitment to the UAE government’s vision for sustainable development. She added that EAD is leading a series of framework initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of climate change, including the development of a climate change policy and a comprehensive strategy for the 2023-2027 period for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

She also announced that EAD is developing a Nexus decision support system that will enable the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to achieve policy coherence across water, environment, energy and food. The project will be implemented with the participation of key custodians of these sectors. This pioneering initiative aims to support the Government of Abu Dhabi to use the emirate’s natural resources more sustainably, improve water, energy and food security, and implement more cost-effective projects and efficient management in relevant sectors.

In the same context, Al Dhaheri noted that the EAD is working on a plan in which emissions and trading caps will be established. The feasibility of implementing the system at the state level is being studied to ensure competitiveness and sustainability. To complement this scheme, there will be existing voluntary schemes such as an electronic platform for trading carbon credits on the Abu Dhabi Global Market. “We hope that the UAE will be the first emirate in the region to implement this initiative, which will further strengthen the UAE’s leadership in climate and support it in hosting COP28 next year,” Al Dhaheri said.

Al Marar said the Clean Energy Target 2035 framework will have a profound impact on Abu Dhabi’s energy mix, allowing the wider economic and industrial sectors to rapidly move towards sustainable development. “This will open the door to increasing the added value and productivity of local businesses,” he noted. “These decarbonisation policies will help implement the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Pathway from today. They represent a real, living commitment to our people and the planet.”

The transition and deployment of 60% clean and renewable electricity by 2035 will be the fastest in the world, he added.

The U.S. Department of Energy expects the new regulatory framework will reduce carbon emissions by 75 percent per megawatt-hour produced in Abu Dhabi by 2035, compared to 2016 levels. As such, Abu Dhabi will be a major contributor to the UAE’s updated climate goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31% relative to business-as-usual by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The UAE’s new targets were published in its “Second Nationally Determined Contribution in September ahead of COP27, as part of the COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact commitment.

Abu Dhabi has made great strides in this area. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy launched the supplemental Abu Dhabi Clean Energy Certificate program as an innovative measure to support reducing the carbon footprint of electricity demand and to meet the growing interest of corporate customers and households in addressing climate change contribute to change.

“We are very encouraged by the adoption of this scheme. More and more commercial entities are purchasing clean energy certificates claiming to use low- or zero-emission electricity, thereby reducing their carbon footprint,” explained Al Marar. “Because electricity produced by clean energy is indistinguishable from electricity produced by any other source, some form of tracking is required. Once an electricity provider injects energy from an identifiable clean source into the grid, a clean energy certificate serves as a source of clean energy. A tracking mechanism. Entities can then claim the environmental benefits of low-carbon energy production to improve the sustainability of their product lines.”

Other enablers to achieve the 2035 target

• Solar Plant Site Map: Clearly available land and suitable solar sites will help increase energy production from clean sources.
• Capacity requirements for energy storage: The accelerated growth of energy storage installations in Abu Dhabi’s transmission and distribution grid is critical to storing energy generated from clean energy sources. Abu Dhabi has introduced a grid-scale state-of-the-art facility in the power system, installing 108 MW of distributed sodium-sulfur batteries with an energy storage capacity of 6 hours.
• Transmission and distribution grid enhancements: Key stakeholders require significant coordination of network infrastructure to connect and operate safe and reliable clean energy systems.
• Flexible natural gas systems: Natural gas system upgrades and storage facilities are required to provide flexibility for higher penetration of clean energy and to support the intermittency of renewable solar PV through dispatchable, high-efficiency natural gas power plants. This will be essential until a reliable storage system is developed and an economically viable robust solution within the system.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness and Vehicle-to-Grid Technology: Electric vehicles can help provide clean daytime energy to the grid at night and reduce demand peaks during critical times. Abu Dhabi recently released a regulatory policy for the UAE’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which includes criteria for establishing a network of electric vehicle charging stations in Abu Dhabi.
• • Hydrogen production: The US Department of Energy has drafted a new hydrogen policy and strategic regulatory framework to position Abu Dhabi as a globally competitive hydrogen player and contribute to clean energy goals.
• As the UAE prepares to host COP28 UAE in 2023 at Expo City Dubai, the focus will be on bringing together all stakeholders to deliver practical sustainable energy solutions to accelerate climate progress, energy security and energy transition.