Dubai records 5.5% growth in energy demand in 2022

Energy demand in Dubai increased by around 5.5 per cent in 2022 compared to 2021.

The demand reached 53,180 gigawatt-hours last year, versus 50,401 gigawatt-hours in 2021.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority said that the increase in energy demand reflects the strong performance of all economic sectors in Dubai, in addition to the continuous growth in population.

“DEWA contributes to developing an infrastructure that is among the most efficient worldwide. This supports Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy over the next decade and consolidate its position among the top three global cities,” said Al Tayer.

Read: Sheikh Mohammed launches Dubai Economic Agenda, ‘D33’ aims to double size of economy in 10 years

“DEWA’s production capacity has increased to 14,517 megawatts of electricity and 490 million imperial gallons of desalinated water per day.”

Line losses from electricity transmission and distribution networks were reduced to 2.2 per cent compared to around 6-7 per cent in Europe and the US.

The utilities giant has announced last year that it held plans to invest Dhs40bn on capital expenditure in the next five years.

Read: DEWA to invest Dhs40bn in water, electricity projects in next five years

Meanwhile, the emirate’s clean energy production capacity reached 2,027 megawatts (MW) using photovoltaic solar power (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) – equalling 14 per cent of Dubai’s total power production capacity of 14,517 MW, the company said last month.

Read: Clean energy comprises 14% of Dubai’s total power production capacity: DEWA

DEWA revealed last year that the regular preventive maintenance of its power transmission networks helped achieve 100 per cent availability of power in Dubai, a strategy that reduced the average maintenance costs by approximately Dhs22m annually.

Read: DEWA reduces average maintenance costs by Dhs22m annually