Dubai: Mr. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has welcomed a high-level delegation from the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO). The delegation included Ms. Jung Sook Park, WeGO Secretary-General, and Ms. Eunbyul Elena Cho, Head of Programme Department.
The visit aimed to discuss cooperation in urban sustainability, smart technologies, and innovative solutions to achieve sustainable development goals. The meeting was attended by Mr. Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA.
The meeting discussed prospects for cooperation and the exchange of experiences and best practises between DEWA and WeGO, which is based in Seoul, South Korea. It includes 215 members from local governments, institutions, and corporations worldwide.
During the meeting, Mr. Al Tayer remarked that the UAE’s wise leadership attaches great importance to environmental sustainability and enhancing the happiness and well-being of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Mr. Al Tayer remarked that smart cities focus on increasing the share of clean and renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, and reducing environmental impact. The CEO highlighted DEWA’s plans and projects to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
Among DEWA’s key projects to achieve these goals is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, using the independent power producer model. The current production capacity of the solar park is 2,327 megawatts (MW), using photovoltaic solar panels and concentrated solar power technologies. This is about 15.7 percent of Dubai’s total power capacity. The solar park will have a capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030 and, when completed, will contribute to reducing more than 6.5 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Mr. Al Tayer further highlighted DEWA’s smart grid and its role in supporting the smart city by managing facilities and services through interconnected systems that use the latest disruptive technologies. In addition, the EV Green Charger initiative was launched by DEWA in 2015 to encourage the use of electric vehicles. DEWA has installed more than 370 charging stations across Dubai, with plans to reach 1,000 stations by the end of 2025.
The WeGO delegation commended DEWA’s efforts in sustainability and the transition towards renewable and clean energy in support of Dubai’s vision to become a smart and sustainable city. The delegation expressed their desire to enhance cooperation with DEWA in urban sustainability and the use of smart technologies and innovative solutions.