Credits By: Sustainability Middle East
UAE Minister Affirms Solar Energy’s Central Role in Energy Transition at ISA Regional Gathering
In a resounding declaration of commitment to sustainable energy transformation, the UAE emphasized the pivotal role of renewables, particularly solar energy, in catalyzing its energy transition. This affirmation was pronounced by Suhail Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, during the fifth meeting of the ISA Regional Committee for Asia and the Pacific Region, hosted in Abu Dhabi.
Al Mazrouei expressed the UAE’s dedication to advancing clean and sustainable energy solutions, underscoring that renewables, especially solar power, constitute a fundamental component of the nation’s response to climate change. During this notable event, which marked the first in-person regional gathering of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Al Mazrouei reaffirmed the UAE’s enduring commitment to green energy evolution.
Al Mazrouei stated, “The UAE is the home to three of the world’s largest solar power plants, with many other large-scale projects planned or under development.” He highlighted iconic projects such as the Noor Abu Dhabi Solar Power Plant, the Shams Solar Power Station in Abu Dhabi, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. These endeavors contribute to positioning the UAE as a frontrunner in renewable energy.
The minister emphasized that the UAE’s energy sector has been instrumental in aligning the nation with its Net Zero targets. The recent enhancements to the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the inception of the National Hydrogen Strategy strengthen the country’s resolve to achieve its climate and net-zero commitments by 2050.
Al Mazrouei’s insightful narrative extended to these strategies’ significant role in positioning the UAE at the forefront of the global energy transition. This transition is crucial for the UAE to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030. As the forthcoming host of COP28, the UAE envisions the global energy transition as the focal point of its presidency. The minister called upon international participants to collaborate in a “concentrated push” to triple renewable energy capacity and double hydrogen production by 2030, inviting them to contribute to the shared endeavor of propelling the energy transition agenda.
The meeting convened prominent global energy leaders in Abu Dhabi to advance solar energy deployment, aligning with the vision of the COP28 Presidency. Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General of ISA, lauded the UAE’s achievement of affordable solar electricity at a remarkable 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. He envisioned this as a harbinger of the future of solar energy in the Asia Pacific region, accentuating solar’s prowess in democratizing energy access and driving global energy transitions.
With global cumulative solar PV installed capacity surpassing one terawatt and solar PV becoming the most economical source of new electricity in multiple regions, the ISA accentuated the potential for elevated solar deployment to further precipitate cost reductions. This underscores the UAE’s visionary trajectory as a worldwide sustainable energy evolution catalyst.
