The UAE’s strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 requires not only significant evolution in patterns of energy production, but also consumption.
So who are the UAE’s energy consumers?
International Energy Agency (IEA) figures show that across the Emirates, in 2021, 50.9% of final energy consumption was accounted for by industry, 20.9% by transport, 9.8% by commercial and public services, and 6.7% by residential usage.
Managing consumption in all these sectors relies on a host of factors, although new technologies and demand and supply management systems are key pillars of energy efficiency strategies in each.
Indeed, such strategies are now being deployed as part of the country’s National Water and Energy Demand Management Programme (NWEDMP). [1]
Aiming to reduce energy demand by 40%, boost water re-use by 95% and increase renewable’s share in the energy mix to 50% – all by 2050 – the programme reaches across the country’s main energy consumer groupings – residential, retail, industrial and commercial.
In addition, on an individual emirate level, plans like Dubai’s demand side management (DSM) Strategy 2030 have recently been updated to include a range of new programmes for energy and water conservation and efficiency. [2]
Abu Dhabi, meanwhile, has its DSM and Energy Rationalisation Strategy, 2030. This aims to reduce electricity consumption by 22% and water consumption by 32% by that target date. [3]
What these programmes emphasis is that in order for energy to be cleaner, better and more sustainable, it also needs to be smarter.
In this, technological advances from smart metering to artificial intelligence (AI) are as key as more nuts-and-bolts developments in solar panels, hydrogen engines and sustainable building materials.
