Emirates Nature–WWF is the leading non-profit
organisation established to drive positive change in the
United Arab Emirates to conserve the nation’s natural
heritage.
A sustainable UAE in which our society, economy and
environment thrive side by side, enabling people to live
in harmony with nature.
To conserve nature and reduce the most pressing
threats to the environment for the benefit of society.
We partner with individuals and institutions to achieve
science-based solutions to combat climate change and
safeguard the seas, the land and their associated
biodiversity.
Goal
By 2020, the UAE takes significant steps towards low-carbon, climate-resilient development by increasing
deployment of renewable energy, implementing energy efficiency measures, expanding sustainable transport
and addressing climate risks
Building on previous work, Emirates Nature-WWF aims to strategically scale up its climate change and energy
portfolio and respond to the need for urgent action on climate change which places people, species and
habitats at risk.
RE
EVCB
TBObjective 1
Increase the share of
renewables in energy
mix
Objective 2
Promote sustainable
transport
Objective 3
Enhance private sector
climate action
Objective 4
Enhance energy
efficiency
➢ Overall, renewables accounted for over 26% of total
electricity generation by the end of 2018.
➢ A total of 181 GW of newly installed renewable energy
capacity was added to the power sector, of which 100
GW came from solar photovoltaics (55% of total).
➢ In the GCC, there was a total of 867 MW installed
capacity, of which 613 MW came from solar
photovoltaics, and 200 MW came from concentrated
solar power.
➢ According to IRENA, achieving all renewable energy
targets in the GCC can create 220,500 jobs by 2030,
of which solar jobs can account for up to 89% of the
total.
➢ UAE is currently leading the way with 68% share of the
total RE installed capacity in the region.
Sources: REN21 Renewables 2019 Global Status Report; IRENA Renewable Energy GCC Analysis 2019
Sources: IRENA Market Analysis: GCC 2016, IRENA Market Analysis: GCC 2019
2009 2013 2014
201520162017
IRENA headquartered in Abu
Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Announces 7%
target by 2020
Shams 1 100 MW CSP
plant Launches
MBR Phase 1 13 MW
launches
Dubai Integrated
Energy Strategy
includes 5% RE
target
2006
Masdar is
Established
UAE announces National
Energy Strategy 2050, with
44% RE capacity target by
2050
MBR Solar Park Inauguration
of Phase 2
MBR Phase 4 announced, with
CSP capacity of 700 MW at 7.3
cents/kWh
Record low PV costs by DEWA @
5.85 cents/kWh for 200 MW PV
plant
Dubai increases targets to 7% by
2020 and 15% by 2030
UAE submits 24% clean energy
target in INDC
Shams Dubai launched by DEWA
New record low PV cost by DEWA at
2.99cents/kWh for 800 MW PV plant
Record bid in Abu Dhabi of 2.41 cents/
kWh (from 350 MW to 1.18 GW)
Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 with
75% clean energy target
UAE increases clean energy target to 27%
UAE ratifies Paris Agreement
2018
MBR Solar Park Phase 3 inauguration
A total of 413 MW is generating power in Dubai,
totaling 4% of total installed capacity
Ras Al Khaimah to have 20% renewable energy
generation by 2040
Masdar and Bee’ah to develop waste-to-energy
plant to generate 30 MW
Launch of “Enabling UAE’s Energy
Transition” report
➢ The Ministry of Energy and Industry team worked together
with the Emirates Nature-WWF to produce a report titled
“Enabling the UAE’s Energy Transition: Top Ten Priority
Areas for Renewable Energy Policy Makers”
➢ This report presents ten key areas that the UAE can focus
its efforts on to achieve and even exceed its renewable
energy target, and move towards a low-carbon electricity
generation mix.
➢ This report was based on technical analysis and stakeholder
engagement.
The following policy recommendation areas have been identified, based on the Ministry of
Energy and Industry’s current targets and efforts, and seek to illustrate how it is possible to
achieve a low-carbon economy while promoting security of energy.
The following policy recommendation areas have been identified, based on the Ministry of Energy and Industry’s current
targets and efforts, and seek to illustrate how it is possible to achieve a low-carbon economy while promoting security of
energy.
5. Demand-Side Management
4. Firmness and Flexibility
6. The Power Water Nexus
7. Emerging Technologies
8. Networks
9. Interconnection
10. Fostering Innovation
2. RE Target Pathways
1. Competition
3. CO2 Targets
2. RE Target Pathways
1. Competition
RENEWABLE ENERGY PATHWAYS
Providing a flexible policy framework that allows the UAE to outperform its targets due
to a favourable shift towards renewables
• Establish a flexible renewably energy framework,
which includes policies and mechanisms that encourage
meeting UAE targets by 2050.
• Investigate the potential for new market options for
renewable energy penetration.
• Harmonise renewable energy policy setting across
the Emirates to create equal opportunity for renewable
energy deployment across the UAE.
• Introduce and further promote rooftop solar
photovoltaic programmes, and streamlined means of
getting connected to a local distribution network for all
end consumers.
CARBON TARGETS
Setting a pathway for CO2 emissions reductions to complement existing renewable
targets
• Complement existing renewable energy
targets with a pathway for CO2
emissions reductions
• Understand externalities of carbon
emitting technologies, to evaluate the
full costs to society of low-carbon
technologies within the UAE’s energy mix.
• Consider abatement options in different
sectors of the UAE economy, outside of
only the power and water sectors.
FIRMNESS AND FLEXIBILITY
Incentivising technologies that provide adequate firmness and flexibility to the system
• Develop technology-neutral auctions to ensure
security of supply and the ability to diversify the
energy mix portfolio.
• Develop incentives and frameworks for new build
generation assets.
• Investigate the future evolution of grid reliability,
especially reserve levels needed to ensure security
of supply at all times.
• Consider potential applications of energy storage
technologies as a key enabler for increased
renewable energy electricity uptake.
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
Demonstrating and creating a market for the emerging energy technologies with the
greatest potential to reduce system costs in the UAE in the long-term
• Support the development and testing of
seasonal storage projects.
• Explore potential to shift air
conditioning load through thermal
energy storage.
• Consider competing emerging storage
technologies to promote price discovery
and evaluate their competitiveness.
• Ensure that any roll-out of electric
vehicles aids rather than hinders
system flexibility.
NETWORKS
Reducing network constraint costs by providing efficient long-term transmission
investment signals and the application of smart technologies
• Ensure that the technologies that are
added onto the grid are installed in a
cost-effective manner to reduce
infrastructure costs and overall
investment burden for future
planning.
• Reduce the cost of future planning by
utilizing smart monitoring and
control mechanisms to monitor
demand and supply load in real-time.
• Making sure that all costs are
reflected in operating the grid.