Zaki Nusseibeh: The UAE is working to create a supportive environment to promote the transition to a competitive, knowledge and innovation-based economy

Suhail Al Mazrouei: The energy and water security strategies are an indication of the strength of the energy and water sectors

E. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Minister of State and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University, affirmed that the UAE is committed to the transition to the use of clean energies, and the Energy Strategy 2050 sets a target of 50% for the use of clean energy, along with a 70% reduction in carbon emissions. The UAE strives to create a supportive environment through partnerships and strategic investments.

During his opening speech at the 6th International Conference on Renewable Energy Generation and Applications organized by the College of Engineering at the United Arab Emirates University "remotely". He pointed out that the UAE launched its National Innovation Strategy in 2014 within the National Agenda 2021, which laid down the necessary measures to foster the transition to a competitive and diversified knowledge and innovation-based economy.

He added that despite the exceptional circumstances due to the Covid 19 pandemic, which prevented personal attendance of the conference, the virtual meeting had a positive result by reducing carbon emissions, in line with the values and goals that we seek to achieve. The digital platform we use represents one of the technological developments that this epidemic has a role in accelerating its development. He said, "This in itself shows the importance of innovation and scientific experiment in promoting the sustainability."

He also pointed out that the UAE University seeks to be an innovation and applied research hub relative to the needs of society and the economy. The UAEU, as the "University of the Future", attaches special importance to academic research and innovation in industry, and works with its strategic partners to address the challenges facing the world, contribute to the development of knowledge and strengthen relations between academics, practitioners and entrepreneurs. He said, "The diversity of attendees at the conference, from various disciplines and specialized scientific fields, reflects the need for new types of communication. The new networks can provide society with an understanding of the different initiatives, and allow for the exchange of diverse global opinions and values, which will contribute to building the basis and momentum for the systemic change necessary to achieve a sustainable transition and transformation in global production and energy use. This requires building understanding between cultures and creating a strong social fabric, and that such matters have been and still are of the basics in my intellectual and professional life.

H.E. Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates is one of the world leaders in diversifying energy sources and developing the clean energy sector, by innovating modern methods to enhance the efficiency of the sector, and finding various solutions besides traditional energy. The UAE supports sustainable development, national economies, and preparation for the next 50 years, up to the UAE Centennial 2071, through which it aims to establish its global leadership.

H.E. pointed out that the UAE is a forerunner in anticipating the future of sustainable energy and water. The UAE has made a qualitative achievement by adopting the first unified energy strategy in the country that includes production and consumption, and the first UAE water security strategy, which is an indication of the strength of the energy and water sectors in the UAE.

The clean energy is fundamental to sustainability. Therefore, the UAE launched the first unified energy strategy, which is the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which targets universal access to safe and sustainable energy at competitive prices, and that the UAE seeks through this strategy to improve and raise individual and institutional consumption efficiency by 40% by the year 2050.  It also aims to diversify the future energy so that reliance on nuclear energy will be 6%, and 12% for clean coal, in addition to 38% for gas and 44% for renewable energy by 2050. It will increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy produced in the country to 50%, and achieve savings equivalent to AED 700 billion until 2050.

The UAE also launched the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, which aims to ensure the sustainability and continuity of access to water during natural and extreme emergency conditions.

He added: The targets of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 are to separate water desalination from electrical power generation, using reverse osmosis (RO) technology, which would reduce the cost by 70% and avoid burning large quantities of gas in the winter period for use in current desalination plants, thus reducing carbon dioxide.

He added: The UAE leads global efforts in the sustainability of clean energy, water and environmental protection.  For this purpose, it has adopted the latest innovations that drive the process of sustainable development, and ways to confront the effects of climate change and mitigate global warming, which represent a future concern for the whole world due to their direct impact on humanity. Every country must adopt an energy strategy that suits its local conditions and serves its future directions.

The activities of the conference was launched through communication techniques from 2 to 4 February. The conference discussed a number of issues of strategic importance to the UAE and various countries of the world. It will host a group of prominent personalities in discussion sessions that include seven basic themes: technologies, applications and materials of renewable energy, hybrid and electric cars, biofuels and bio-energy, sustainable energy policies, cities and buildings, green economy, energy harvesting and storage devices, and smart grids. It will discuss the challenges and opportunities for the deployment of green energy technology, the main role of lithium batteries in the future energy transition and the role of the smart grid in facilitating the integration of renewable resources.