The UAE is securing its water needs while cutting its carbon footprint

 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is ensuring a plentiful supply of clean water while cutting its carbon footprint. The UAE’s water innovations would help to develop sustainable farming, desalination, and manufacturing.

The UAE’s water desalinating project is helping the community get consumable water. The UAE aims to tackle water insecurity and also take care of its carbon footprint. The UAE has invested money in new desalination plants in line with the directives of the UAE’s leadership to achieve water security.

Recently, Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has announced that it is aiming for a 606 per cent rise in its solar power generation capacity by 2030. Othman al Ali, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EWEC, said it would help the future needs of Abu Dhabi and the Emirates.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy called for continued investment in low-carbon desalination technology, a process that removes salts from water. The UAE would continue investing in low-carbon intensive reverse osmosis (RO) water desalination technology to ensure that over 90 per cent of the total water demand is met by 2030. RO is helpful in producing clean water using less energy compared to the usual thermal process.

The statement published by EWEC and approved by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy indicated that the aim was in line with the UAE’s commitment to reduce carbon footprint and help in climate action in order to mitigate the impact of climate change.

The UAE’s dual commitment to research and investment in renewable energy, particularly solar, would be helpful in securing the country’s water supply. According to Guinness World Records, Dubai, a city in the UAE, is home to the biggest solar-powered data centre in the world.

Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, officially opened the solar-powered data centre in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, with a capacity of five gigawatts. According to a statement released by the Dubai Government Media Office, the initiative would help to reduce electricity and water demand by 30 per cent by 2030.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, is developing a two-gigawatt solar plant in the Al Dhafra region. Abu Dhabi has set a target of 5.6 gigawatts of solar PV (photovoltaic) capacity by 2026.

The UAE has invested heavily in clean energy projects. The UAE has also announced several initiatives in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The UAE’s Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant also aims to tackle climate change, tackle growing carbon emissions, and guarantee energy sustainability. The plant would contribute 25% of the UAE’s National Determined Contributions to Net Zero.