UAE initiatives for low- carbon growth praised on Earth Day
EXPERTS HAIL INVESTMENTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Industry experts, as part of Earth Day celebrations, praised the UAE’s push for low- carbon growth by increasing its focus on renewables. This year marks the 45th anniversary of Earth Day — celebrated every April 22 — a global movement that tackles climate change. This year’s theme, ‘ It’s Our Turn To Lead’, focuses on growth and sustainability, pushing citizens and organisations away from fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy solutions.
On Earth Day, Alliance Francaise Dubai hosted a conference on climate change and environmental issues. France will host the 2015 Paris Climate Conference in December, where countries will meet to sign a global agreement on plans for carbon reduction.
Ivano Iannelli, CEO of the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, said the UAE has taken the lead in the region.
Infrastructure
“In the UAE, we do a lot more than is communicated because essentially when we look at the infrastructure, there are constant improvements that do not happen anywhere else in the world,” Iannelli told Gulf News.
“For example, Dubai produces power from fossil fuels at one of the lowest CO2 [ carbon dioxide] emissions. Dubai produces aluminium at one of Last Sunday, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority announced the tender for the 800 megawatt third phase of the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Solar Park, which is by far the largest project that will be deployed by just one company in Mena. Abu Dhabi has launched a 100 megawatt project called Noor 1. Abu Dhabi’s Federal Electricity and Water Authority has announced plans to build another 100MW solar plant in the next 12 months. the lowest emissions globally as well,” he added.
According to the Mena Solar Outlook 2015, 2015 will be a breakthrough year for solar energy in the Mena region, with more than 1,500 megawatts of solar projects expected to be tendered and with the UAE continuing its role in leading the industry.
Vahid Fotuhi, President of the Middle East Solar Industry Association, said Dubai’s actions are spurring ripple ef- fects across the country. Earlier this year, Dubai unveiled major projects signalling the first step towards shifting to renewables such as the grid- connected solar rooftop programmes for households and the electric charging stations to fuel demand for electric and hybrid cars.
“What started as a Dubai initiative has now mushroomed across the emirates and even Sharjah, through Bee’ah, is now looking at solar,” Fotuhi said.