HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), received HE Liborio Stellino, Italy’s Ambassador to the UAE, at his office, in the presence of Umberto Bernardo, First Commercial Secretary, Embassy of Italy. Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, and Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing & Corporate Communications at DEWA, also attended the meeting.
The session discussed ways to encourage Italian companies to take part in clean and renewable energy projects in the UAE, in general and Dubai, in particular. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer welcomed Italy’s Ambassador to the UAE, reiterating the importance of cooperation between DEWA and Italian companies in the energy sector and develop relationships to exchange expertise. The trade exchange between the UAE and Italy was USD 8 billion in 2015.
HE Al Tayer highlighted DEWA’s most important development projects and strategic initiatives in Dubai, in adherence with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. DEWA’s projects come in line with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 launched by His Highness to make Dubai a global centre for clean energy and green economy. The strategy aims to provide 7% of Dubai’s energy from clean sources by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050. On the other hand, Italy aims to rely 100% on renewable energy by 2050, including 25% from photovoltaic (PV) panels and the rest from geothermal, wind and hydropower energy.
HE Al Tayer discussed the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site project to generate electricity from solar energy in the world, with a planned capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030, and a total investment up to AED 50 billion (USD13.6 bn). Al Tayer also highlighted the 2,400MW Hassyan clean coal power project. Total investment of the project is USD 3.4 billion, and building a hydroelectric power station in the mountains next to the Al Hatta dam with a capacity of 250 MW, in addition to other development projects. Al Tayer also highlighted smart grids. The smart grid strategy contains 11 programmes with a total investment of AED 7 billion up to 2020. DEWA has developed plans and programmes for demand side management, energy efficiency and operational improvement. DEWA also launched three smart initiatives as part of its efforts to achieve the Smart Dubai initiative.
The Italian delegation showed interest to participate in DEWA’s leading projects in clean and renewable energy. The Italian ambassador hailed DEWA’s efforts to achieve sustainable development in Dubai, reduce carbon footprint of the emirate to achieve a better future for generations to come. Dubai has all the capabilities to reach first place globally and has already become a leading global hub for sustainability and green economy.