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.