DEWA reduces carbon emissions through significant improvement in electricity and water production efficiency

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has said that DEWA made a significant achievement in improving electricity and water production efficiency in 2024, with a 43.61% increase compared to 2006. This equates to a cumulative reduction of 104 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions between 2006 and 2024, equivalent to planting 527 million trees to absorb this amount of CO2. Al Tayer noted that this improvement in electricity and water production efficiency contributed to DEWA's achievement of substantial financial savings.

“In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we support the proactive path established by the UAE to achieve net zero by 2050 and the implementation of the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. We aim to consolidate Dubai's global position in climate action by transforming challenges into opportunities. We benefit from sustainable economic growth offered by climate action and improving electricity and water production efficiency. DEWA's world-leading projects contribute to efforts to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of the Emirate’s energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. These projects further support sustainable development and global ambitions to ensure that the rise in global temperature does not exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, so that everyone enjoys a more sustainable and greener future,” said Al Tayer.

Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation (Power & Water) at DEWA, said: “We place great emphasis on enhancing the efficiency of electricity and water production through innovation and continuous upgrades to our production plants, as well as the deployment of cutting-edge technologies across all our facilities and projects. DEWA regularly develops operation and maintenance modes to enhance efficiency further.”

DEWA produces electricity and water using co-generation technology. Heat recovery steam generators harness waste heat from gas turbines to generate additional electricity and provide thermal energy for the water desalination process. DEWA employs an innovative hybrid system for water desalination plants, integrating various technologies such as multi-stage flashing and seawater reverse osmosis, ensuring optimal efficiency throughout the plant’s lifecycle and minimising costs. DEWA also collaborates with original equipment manufacturers to undertake gas turbine upgrades, improving their efficiency, performance and reliability.