Dubai: Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), welcomed Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, the Federal Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism of Austria, and Etienne Berchtold, the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the UAE. The meeting was attended by key DEWA officials, including Waleed bin Salman, Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, and Marwan Bin Haidar, focusing on fostering global partnerships in sustainability and renewable energy.
According to Emirates News Agency, the discussions emphasized DEWA's commitment to the UAE's vision of transitioning to a green economy. The dialogue covered the enhancement of cooperation to expedite the green energy transition, tackle climate challenges, and exchange best practices in environmental sustainability. Both parties acknowledged the significance of technology and knowledge sharing in developing solutions to global environmental issues.
Al Tayer outlined Dubai's clean energy goals, which align with the UAE Net Zero Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. These strategies aim to fulfill 100 percent of Dubai's energy requirements from clean sources by 2050. DEWA's major projects, such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, are pivotal to these objectives. The solar park will have a production capacity of 7,260 megawatts by 2030, contributing to a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
Additionally, Al Tayer highlighted DEWA's global leadership, as evidenced by its top rankings in 12 key performance indicators. In 2024, DEWA achieved the world's lowest electricity transmission and distribution network losses at 2 percent. Water transmission and distribution losses were also minimized to 4.5 percent. Furthermore, DEWA set a world record for the lowest customer minutes lost, at 0.94 minutes per year.
The deployment of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, including AI, across DEWA's operations was also a key topic. This integration aims to enhance the UAE and Dubai's leadership in AI adoption, ensuring high-quality, efficient, and reliable energy and water services.
Al Tayer introduced 'Al Shera'a', DEWA's new headquarters, designed to be the tallest, largest, and smartest energy-positive government building worldwide. The building is set to achieve high ratings under the LEED and WELL Building Standards, utilizing IoT, Big Data, and AI for optimal efficiency.
Hattmannsdorfer expressed gratitude for the constructive dialogue and highlighted the potential for future cooperation between Austria and the UAE, especially in renewable energy. He emphasized the UAE's role as a strategic partner for Austria in the energy sector, where concrete collaborations will be pursued.
