Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA)| Emissions & Climate Mitigation

DEWA is committed to reducing its carbon footprint while ensuring a secure, reliable and affordable supply of power and water. Since the launch of the award-winning Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction Programme (ERP) in 2012, DEWA has systematically worked to abate emissions through a long-term strategy that analyses current GHG emissions, sets reduction targets through 2030 and integrates these objectives into business decisions and growth strategies.

These efforts continue to support Dubai's carbon reduction objectives and contribute to the implementation of the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2030 (CAS 2030).

The ERP is underpinned by three key components

The programme addresses emission reductions across both the demand and supply sides, through consumption efficiency initiatives, supply-side efficiency improvements and energy mix diversification, while considering Dubai's energy and water growth needs. ERP targets are measured in terms of emissions intensity (tCO₂e/MWh) and absolute emissions (tCO₂e) for short, medium and long-term actions leading to 2030, using 2010 as the baseline.

DEWA is committed to reducing the power and water sector's GHG emissions as part of the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2030 — which sets a 30% GHG emissions reduction by 2030 compared to business-as-usual (BAU) levels. Additionally, DEWA remains committed to achieving 100% of energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050 as part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050.

By implementing the ERP, adopting circular economy practices and leveraging innovative and sustainable technology, DEWA continues to lead climate mitigation efforts, driving sustainable energy solutions and reducing its overall carbon footprint while contributing to Dubai's low-carbon economy and long-term climate goals.

Direct GHG Emissions

DEWA's Category 1 emissions encompass all direct emissions resulting from its operations. These include fuel combustion during power generation and water desalination, which represents the largest share of direct emissions. Additionally, emissions are generated from sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) usage in circuit breakers, fuel combustion in DEWA-owned vehicles and leased vehicles, and refrigerants used for air conditioning and maintenance activities.

Additionally, smaller emission sources — such as CO₂ used in fire protection systems and laboratories, diesel consumption for back-up generators, acetylene for maintenance works, LPG used in cable termination and process emissions from desalination — are also included in this category.

DEWA covers all required greenhouse gases identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which includes carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃). DEWA's comprehensive monitoring framework ensures accurate reporting and alignment with international standards.

In 2025, DEWA's total Category 1 emissions were 27.34 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e), compared to the BAU scenario of 38.07 MtCO₂e, while the carbon intensity, based on the grid emission factor for electricity, was 0.3833 tCO₂e/MWh.

Indirect GHG Emissions from Imported Energy

Category 2 emissions include indirect GHG emissions from the consumption of purchased electricity or steam. For DEWA, this specifically refers to emissions from imported electricity integrated into its operations.

As DEWA is both the producer of electricity and water, emissions from its own energy consumption, such as auxiliary power for generation and desalination or operational site usage, are already accounted for under Category 1 (Direct Emissions). This ensures alignment with GHG Protocol standards and prevents double counting.

Since 2023, DEWA has been reporting emissions from imported electricity generated by the Warsan Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Project, managed by Dubai Municipality. This facility processes municipal solid waste to produce electricity, which is integrated into DEWA's power grid. By separately accounting for these emissions, DEWA maintains transparency in its reporting. 

In 2025, Category 2 emissions were 1.991 MtCO₂e  from imported electricity. This figure includes both fossil and biogenic CO₂ emissions from the combustion of municipal solid waste at the Warsan WTE facility.

Indirect GHG Emissions from Transport

DEWA's Category 3 emissions include indirect emissions associated with transport activities not directly controlled by DEWA but linked to its operations, which cover emissions from the transport of employees for business-related activities, as well as emissions from the transport of employees between their homes and their worksites.

By incorporating Category 3 emissions into its reporting framework, DEWA takes a holistic approach to managing its carbon footprint and addressing all relevant sources of GHG emissions.

In 2025, reported Category 3 emissions were 40,055.09 tCO₂e, covering emissions from both business travel and employee commuting activities.

DEWA consolidates and monitors its GHG emissions using an operational control approach, quantifying them in terms of CO₂ equivalents. The quantification methodology multiplies GHG activity data by relevant emission factors, ensuring accuracy, completeness and transparency.