Renewable Energy Leadership
Partnerships between the UAE and US are driving advances in sustainability and clean energy technology. In 2014, the UAE and the US launched the first annual bilateral energy dialogue to facilitate new and ongoing initiatives to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has played a key role in the establishment and development of Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the world’s first graduate-level university dedicated to providing real-world solutions to issues of sustainability. Masdar Institute is producing cutting-edge products, such as an urban planning tool that maximizes cities’ energy efficiency.
In addition, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is working with GE to build the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, the largest solar project in the Middle East. The solar power plant, which is on track for completion in 2030, will use GE’s liquid-cooled solar inverters to convert solar panel output to grid-ready electrical currents.
The UAE is also seeking solutions at the global level. In 2010, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) – an intergovernmental organization that promotes sustainability – established its headquarters in the UAE. And at the 2017 World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, the UAE announced that renewable energy will make up 44 percent of its energy mix by 2050.
In January 2017, the UAE announced a $50 million fund for renewable energy projects in 16 Caribbean islands. The Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund aims to reduce energy costs in the region and improve energy security. The UAE supports dozens of renewable energy projects around the world – from the Middle East and Africa to Europe and North America.