Utilities
From The Report: Abu Dhabi 2023
View in Online Reader

Abu Dhabi’s ambitious energy transition, accelerated by the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant’s commercial operations, aligns with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. This strategy aims to balance energy sources, targeting 44% clean energy, 38% natural gas, 12% clean coal and 6% nuclear.
Amid efforts to catalyse substantial investment in clean and renewable energy, Abu Dhabi is expected to play a leading role. The emirate prioritises upgrading utilities infrastructure with sustainability in mind, inviting partners in areas such as smart grids, renewable power, water infrastructure and energy efficiency.

Nuclear and thermal power stakeholders are also finding opportunities as Abu Dhabi seeks to meet the demands of a growing population. The sector’s consolidation under major players is simplifying project implementation, with foreign companies competing for operations contracts under the build-own-operate-transfer model.

This chapter contains interviews with Jasim Husain Thabet, Group CEO and Managing Director, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company; and Khalid Al Marzooqi, CEO, Tabreed.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Higher capacity: The emirate is working to accommodate a fast-rising population and expected peak energy demand in the medium term
OBG
plus

The UAE and its largest emirate, Abu Dhabi, have embarked on a far-reaching energy transition process that has been accelerated by the start of commercial operations at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, in 2021. These efforts are underpinned by UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which targets an energy mix that combines renewable, nuclear and clean energy sources to meet the country’s long-term economic needs and environmental goals. The strategy seeks to achieve a balance comprising…

Analysis

Sustainable aims: Regulatory measures and solar power are helping to keep the emirate on track to achieve its ambitious energy targets
OBG
plus

Abu Dhabi has set an ambitious goal that goes beyond the UAE’s national energy strategy, which aims to increase the share of clean energy in its installed capacity mix to 50% by 2050. The Department of Energy (DoE) has been the regulatory authority for the energy sector in Abu Dhabi since 2018 and plays a pivotal role in driving energy transition efforts. Indeed, the emirate is committed to generating 60% of its electricity from clean sources by 2035 and reduce carbon emissions per MWh produced…

Interview

Taking the lead: Jasim Husain Thabet, Group CEO and Managing Director, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), on how public-private collaboration is supporting the energy transition
OBG
plus

Interview:Jasim Husain Thabet How can energy and utility players help the UAE achieve its energy transition goals? JASIM HUSAIN THABET: Key energy and utility stakeholders in the country, including TAQA, are committed to achieving the UAE’s net-zero target by 2050. Utility companies are playing a key role in driving progress across multiple fronts, for example, by launching additional renewable energy projects, enhancing grid capacity and interconnectivity, and managing the demand side to…

Analysis

Decarbonisation solutions: The Gulf looks to carbon capture and hydrogen to drive the transition to clean energy production and net-zero emissions
OBG
plus

As hydrocarbons producers reap sustained revenue from high global prices, national oil companies (NOCs) in the Gulf are accelerating investment in hydrogen; carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS); and cleaner sources of energy to make their activities less carbon-intensive and support the energy transition. Gulf NOCs’ low-cost production advantages and massive hydrocarbons resources mean that CCUS can reduce emissions for the coming decades as the world continues to rely on oil and gas…

Analysis

Liquid assets: Desalination is seen as a reliable solution to water shortages, particularly as the technology becomes more economical
OBG
plus

Desalination is considered an expensive and energy-intensive process. However, mega-projects are seeking to tap renewable resources to limit the cost and environmental concerns associated with this crucial process. In June 2022 ENOWA, the energy, water and hydrogen subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM mega-project, signed a memorandum of understanding with French energy company Veolia and Japanese trading company Itochu to develop a reverse-osmosis (RO) water desalination facility fully powered by…

Interview

Sustainable cooling: Khalid Al Marzooqi, CEO, Tabreed, on recent developments and trends in the district cooling industry
OBG
plus

Interview:Khalid Al Marzooqi Which particular challenges and opportunities does the transition to a net-zero emissions economy present for the district cooling industry? KHALID AL MARZOOQI: District cooling is the most energy-efficient and cost-effective solution in high-density cities, and the technology is essential in wider decarbonisation efforts. In hot climates such as the Middle East, nearly 70% of peak electricity demand during the summer is used for cooling. The rate of urbanisation…