Sharjah 24 – WAM: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Tuesday witnessed the signing of an agreement between Expo City Dubai (ECD) and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) to fully power Expo City with renewable energy, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, other sheikhs, ministers and senior officials also attended the signing ceremony.
Expanding on Expo City's current on-site renewable energy capacity, DEWA will now permanently provide solar energy to the entire site through International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs) sourced from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This initiative aligns with the central mission of COP28.
Initially supplying over 100,000 megawatt-hours of power, estimated based on the total consumption for 2023, additional I-RECs will be incorporated in the future to cater to the growing energy needs of the community. Furthermore, Expo City has plans to independently enhance its on-site capacity in the upcoming years.
The shift in energy source will offer positive impacts for Expo City’s tenants and eventual residents, as well as the growing number of events held on site. This is particularly significant as Expo City prepares to host the COP28 summit, supporting the delivery of a carbon neutral event and complementing the conference’s clear focus on the global transition to clean energy.
Aligned with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, the agreement is a further reflection of the ambitious spirit of Dubai in the field of renewable energy, including the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. It also supports Expo City Dubai’s role as a hub in the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which maps out a comprehensive plan for a sustainable urban development in Dubai.