Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), entrusted with overseeing the energy sector in Abu Dhabi and ensuring the implementation of sustainable practices, recently organized its inaugural workshop focused on updating the Abu Dhabi Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalisation Strategy 2030.
The workshop brought together key government entities including the Department of Municipalities and Transport, Abu Dhabi City Municipality, Al Ain City Municipality, Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, Abu Dhabi Distribution Company, Al Ain Distribution Company, and Abu Dhabi Energy Services.
The workshop served as a platform to discuss and highlight significant developments and achievements of the DoE strategy since its launch in 2019. The strategy aims to deliver notable economic and environmental benefits to Abu Dhabi, including enhancing energy supply security and promoting resource sustainability in alignment with the emirate’s vision and national strategies.
The Abu Dhabi Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalization Strategy (DSM) 2030 comprises nine programs involving multiple stakeholders. It has the potential to achieve energy savings of 22 percent, water savings of 32 percent (equivalent to AED 8 billion), and a reduction of over 9 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, which is comparable to removing 1.5 million vehicles from the road for an entire year.
During the workshop, representatives from participating government entities were briefed on key challenges associated with strategy implementation and explored potential solutions. They also discussed leveraging their expertise to effectively contribute to the strategy’s ongoing development.
The workshop’s discussions encompassed an assessment of the strategy’s current status, future outlook, and identified opportunities. Participants focused on reviewing achieved goals, aligning with local and national strategies, summarizing challenges, highlighting improvements in key initiatives, and evaluating proposed solutions.
Notable milestones of the strategy since its launch in 2019 were acknowledged, such as achieving a 50 percent reduction in the water savings target for 2030 and a 31 percent reduction in electricity consumption, resulting in a remarkable reduction of 3 million tons of CO2 emissions. The DoE also introduced policies and regulations, including the Energy Efficiency Policy for Government Buildings and the Abu Dhabi Measurement and Verification Protocol, to support the attainment of these goals.
The DoE remains committed to actively participating in local and international events and forums to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration with strategic partners. These initiatives contribute to the continuous improvement and advancement of sustainable energy practices in Abu Dhabi.