Electricity and water generation projects in Dubai will improve efficiency and generate cumulative savings of up to Dh70 billion ($19 billion) and reduce carbon emissions by 235 million tonnes by 2030, according to Saeed Mohammed Ahmed Al Tayer, the managing director and chief executive officer of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).

He was addressing the fourth edition of the Dubai International Project Management Forum, organised by Dubai's Road and Transport Authority, reported Wam, the Emirates official news agency.

Al Tayer said the emirate's strategy to reduce carbon emissions seeks to scale down emissions by 16 per cent by the year 2021, noting that "100 per cent of the emirate's desalinated water will be produced by a mix of clean energy that uses both renewable energy and waste heat. This will allow Dubai to exceed global targets for using clean energy to desalinate water. So, Dewa will be able to produce 750 million gallons of desalinated water per day by 2030, compared to our current capacity of 470 million gallons per day."

During his participation in a panel session, titled "Management of Developmental Projects" Al Tayer affirmed Dewa's keenness to achieve the vision of the country's wise leadership to strengthen the three main pillars of sustainable development, namely Society, Environment, and Economy, across all its developmental enterprises and to adopt best international practices and the latest state-of-the-art technology in terms of authenticity, efficiency and safety.

"To implement the directives of our wise leadership, who have put innovation and preparing for the future, and sustainability as key strategic priorities, and to support the UAE Vision 2021, and the objectives of the Dubai Plan 2021, Dubai has, over the past few years, advanced its regional and global position, by launching pioneering projects, initiatives, and action plans in clean energy,” said Al Tayer.

“It has also devised innovative and efficient methods and techniques to enhance energy efficiency, and rationalise the consumption of natural resources. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, launched by the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to transform the Emirate into a global centre for clean energy and green economy and increase clean energy’s share in Dubai’s total power output to 7 per cent by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030, and 75 per cent by 2050," he added.

Participating in the panel as well were Khalaf Al Habtoor, chairman of Al Habtoor Group and the UN Development Programme Resident Representative in the UAE, who also serves as the UN Resident Coordinator.