EWEC targets 45 per cent cut in carbon emissions as Abu Dhabi's solar capacity set to soar
Abu Dhabi's water and electricity company has outlined plans to cut carbon emissions by nearly half by 2035, even as power demand surges by 70 per cent. Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) marked Zero Emissions Day by publishing its long-term outlook for Abu Dhabi's power and water network. The company forecast total carbon emissions from power and water production would fall from about…
Abu Dhabi's water and electricity company, Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), has set ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions by nearly half by 2035. Despite an expected surge in power demand, the company projects a significant decrease in carbon emissions, from approximately 42 million tonnes in 2019 to 23 million tonnes by 2035. This reduction is driven by the expansion of renewable energy sources and a transition towards reverse-osmosis desalination.
Mohamed Almarzooqi, chief assets officer of EWEC, emphasized that the company's strategic planning aims to achieve both infrastructure expansion and emissions reduction simultaneously. The company intends to increase its solar capacity to 14 gigawatts by 2030 and over 35 gigawatts by 2035, along with more than 15 gigawatts of battery storage capacity. As this infrastructure develops, the reliance on gas-fired generation is expected to diminish.
In the water sector, EWEC anticipates that reverse osmosis will account for more than 95% of total water production by 2035, replacing traditional, thermally intensive desalination methods. This shift is expected to significantly contribute to overall emissions reductions. The company's efforts are aligned with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 and the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 Strategy.
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