• the DoE hosted a series of events and discussions, in addition to showcasing several clean energy projects and energy efficiency initiatives.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has completed another successful participation as Principal Partner in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), which was held between January 15 and 19, 2022.

The DoE’s agenda at ADSW 2022 featured participation in several forums and thought leadership platforms, as a well as a showcase of Abu Dhabi’s energy sector advancements in the transition to clean energy and a low-carbon economy.

His Excellency Eng. Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of the DoE, delivered the keynote address during at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, where he stressed the need to protect the world’s environment through making positive energy choices and adjusting behaviours to a more sustainable lifestyle.

H.E. Al Marar also addressed the younger women and men at the opening ceremony of the Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) Forum, and highlighted that sustainability is a deeply rooted concept in Emirati social values and called on youth to start by changing themselves and adopting sustainable lifestyles that lead to a culture of wise energy consumption they can pass on to future generations.

For his part, H.E. Eng. Ahmad Mohammed Belajer Al Rumaithi, Undersecretary of the DoE, addressed the closing session of the Y4S Forum, reassured the youth that they are not to blame for the consequences of high-carbon, energy-intensive economic models inherited over the past, and explained that using energy is not really the problem, but abusing energy is, and urged the audience to rethink their consumption with sustainability in mind.

The DoE released ‘Sustainable Lifestyle a digital guide to promote sustainable practices in all aspects of life. The guide presents carefully crafted ideas to encourage individuals and raise awareness about living a more sustainable life, in addition to reducing, reusing, and recycling. It also featured eco-friendly practices across a wide range of sectors, such as tourism, food, entertainment, technology, and fashion, to name a few.

The DoE exhibition stand presented sector-leading projects that support the increase in clean energy capacity, energy efficiency and decarbonization  to support the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.

The DoE also showcased the Abu Dhabi Integrated Energy Model, which provides a comprehensive view of the energy system for policymakers, business leaders, and investors, as well as future perspectives until 2050. The DoE additionally presented the Integrated Water Model, the Socioeconomic Module, and the Heat Map.

Furthermore, the DoE highlighted the progress made on the Abu Dhabi Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalisation Strategy (DSM) 2030, which aims to achieve economic and environmental benefits and ensure the stability of energy demand and the sustainability of sources through nine effective programmes.

Visitors explored the policies and regulations the DoE has launched, which position it at the fore in efforts to renew the energy sector and enhance use efficiency, security of supply, and enable an effective energy transition. These policies and regulations include Tankering Regulation for Water Tanker and Wastewater Services; District Cooling Regulations for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi; and the Regulatory Policy for Clean Energy Certificates, which sets the regulations and principles for implementing a clean energy certificate scheme in Abu Dhabi to help reduce the carbon footprint associated with power generation.

Meanwhile, H.E. Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Belajer Al Rumaithi, DoE Undersecretary, welcomed a delegation from the GCC Interconnection Authority, headed by H.E. Eng. Ahmed Ali Al-Ibrahim, CEO of the Authority, at the DoE’s stand at the World Future Energy Summit 2022. The two sides discussed issues related to the sector and opportunities to cooperate and strengthen bilateral relations.

H.E. Al Rumaithi also met with a delegation from Electric Power Research Institute, headed by Neil Wilmushurst, Vice President of the institute. The two parties discussed prospects for cooperation and strengthening strategic relations between them, as well as ways to benefit from research in the field of energy, especially energy efficiency, hydrogen, and ways to  reduce carbon emissions.

Also on the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Agenda was hosting the ‘Canada Advancing Clean Energy – Hydrogen and Decarbonisation’ forum in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Canada and the Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC). The event brought together stakeholders from the UAE and Canada to explore scenarios for how they can accomplish their shared target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, as well as to foster closer collaboration in the hydrogen and decarbonisation space. 

The DoE also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the ‘Building Retrofit Programme to Improve Electricity and Water Efficiency’ across five Abu Dhabi Government entities. The MoU falls within the Department’s mandate to enhance energy efficiency and engage all relevant entities in its efforts to improve energy and water demand-side management in the emirate.

The five entities that signed the agreement were the Abu Dhabi City Municipality, Department of Education and Knowledge, Department of Health, Department of Community Development, Abu Dhabi Energy Services, and Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy organised an online seminar titled ‘Clean Energy Certificates for a Sustainable Economy in Abu Dhabi’ to shed light on the importance of the scheme in promoting clean energy and encouraging entities to adopt sustainability in all their operations.

-End-