UAE plans to generate 19.8 gigawatts of clean energy by 2030: Al Mazrouei

The UAE is set to generate a total capacity of 19.8 gigawatts of clean energy by 2030, Suhail bin Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, told a global audience of energy leaders at the opening of ADIPEC 2023, reported state news agency WAM.

ADIPEC began in Abu Dhabi on October 2 and will go on until October 5. The theme this year is ‘Decarbonising. Faster. Together.’

UAE’s energy transition

Speaking at ADIPEC’s ministerial panel on the subject of ‘Fast tracking the energy transition’, Al Mazrouei said:’’Having one of the fastest-growing clean energy industries in the world, the UAE is set to generate a total capacity of 19.8 gigawatts of clean energy by 2030. In addition, the UAE seeks to become a leading producer and supplier of low-carbon hydrogen, working towards producing 1.4 million metric tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen per annum by 2031 and 15 million metric tonnes per annum by 2050.”

He affirmed that international collaboration is crucial to addressing energy challenges.

Tayba Al Hashemi, Chair of ADIPEC 2023 and CEO of ADNOC Offshore, said: “By 2030, the world will be home to an additional half a billion people, demanding more energy every year. At the same time, the global challenge of climate change calls for urgent, game-changing solutions to eliminate emissions. Every government, industry, business and individual has a role to play in decarbonising quicker, and creating the future of energy, faster, while safeguarding energy security and ensuring nobody is left behind.

“Decarbonising, faster, together, is not just the theme of ADIPEC 2023, it is a rallying call to industry to work together to transform, decarbonise and future-proof our industry. We want to accelerate the innovation and tangible actions needed to enable a lower-carbon and higher-growth future for the world.”

Amin H Nasser, president and CEO, Aramco, said: “At Aramco, we believe that energy security and sustainability can co-exist. We remain committed to helping supply the world’s growing energy needs as we also expand our efforts to develop lower-carbon solutions that will provide future generations with cleaner and more sustainable energy.”

High-level panel convenes on the future of energy supply

The panel explored how innovative policies and inclusive practices are the key to meeting increasing energy demands and achieving net zero emissions. The panel also agreed on the important role that governments must play in driving both collaboration and investment. Ministers remarked on the importance of facilitating a just low-carbon future, simultaneously reducing emissions and driving economic growth.

Addressing the need for pragmatism, Al Mazrouei, said: “We need to keep the politics aside, and as OPEC, work as a technical group”.

Echoing his remarks, Haitham Al Ghais, secretary-general of OPEC, said: “We have to have a clear roadmap of where we’re going, and how to get there”.

Ministers from Türkiye and Romania also discussed the initiatives underway in their respective countries designed to facilitate a transition to a cleaner energy system.

Over four days, ADIPEC 2023 will feature 10 conferences – including a new, hydrogen-focused conference and an expanded strategic decarbonisation conference – that will address a range of themes such as energy security, mobilising finance and investment, and developing a zero-carbon value chain.

Across 16 exhibition halls, ADIPEC will gather over 2,200 companies and feature 30 country pavilions and four specialised areas focused on facilitating cross-sector collaboration and game-changing partnerships. ADIPEC 2023 has gathered over 160,000 attendees from 160 countries.

More than 40 ministers and 120 global C-suite executives will contribute to the 350-plus conference sessions, addressing the key energy transition priorities, including tackling methane and carbon emissions, scaling up investment in technology and renewables, decarbonising heavy industries and the development of future leaders.