Dubai is set to expand its water and electricity production to manage the rising demand in the UAE, said the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority on Tuesday, July 26.
Presently, DEWA provides electricity and water services to over 3.5 million people residing in Dubai. The utility company predicts this number to reach over 5.8 million by the end of 2040.
The demand for energy among Dubai citizens and residents increased by 6.3% year-on-year during the first six months of this year, driven by sustained economic recovery in the UAE, said DEWA.
Energy demand in the UAE during the first half of 2022 reached 23,096 gigawatt hours as compared to the same period in 2021, which was 21,729 gigawatt hours.
The capacity of DEWA reached over 14,117 megawatts of electricity and 490 million imperial gallons of desalinated water every day from January to June 2022.
The managing director and chief executive of DEWA, Saeed Al Tayer, stated that DEWA had outlined plans for expansion of energy and water infrastructure as per demand forecasts till 2031.
The utility further intends to invest Dh40 billion in electricity and water projects during the next five years while focusing on renewables, clean energy, electricity, water transmission, and distribution networks.
The present production capacity of the Hassyan Power Complex, which operates on natural gas, has reached 1,800MW by using the independent power producer model.
Another 600MW will be added in 2023, increasing the capacity of the complex to 2,400MW, stated DEWA.
The utility is also presently executing Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 as well as Dubai’s Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, as part of which the UAE strives to assure 100% of production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
The share UAE of clean energy in the energy mix of Dubai has reached 11.5% and is predicted to reach 14% by the end of this year, said DEWA.