UAE may exceed 24% renewables target

The target set by the United Arab Emirates government for energy generated from clean sources is likely to be exceeded, according to the country’s minister of environment and water.

The Emirates submitted a commitment to the United Nations last year to generate 24 per cent of its energy from clean sources by 2021, up from 0.2 per cent in 2014.

“Given the projects we have here currently, I believe we will go higher than that [24 per cent], that was a conservative target,” said Dr Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad in a panel discussion at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

The country’s renewable energy projects include the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park, a three-phase project that is set to generate 800mw of power in its third phase.

Other projects include the 100mw Shams 1 facility in Abu Dhabi.

Investments in renewable energy rose 4 per cent globally in 2015 to reach $328.9bn, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. This included a 54 per cent rise in the Middle East and Africa to $13.4bn.