UAE renewable energy goals on the agenda at council meeting

Federal National Council members will discuss the government's efforts to increase the use of clean energies

The Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai is one of the largest solar projects in the world. Reuters
Powered by automated translation

The UAE government must work more closely with businesses to hit clean energy targets, the Federal National Council will be told on Tuesday.

FNC members will propose new legislation to regulate clean energies from renewable, zero-emission sources such as solar, wind and hydropower.

The UAE currently derives about 98 per cent of its energy from gas.

A report prepared by the FNC's energy committee states that the Ministry of Energy has not done enough to develop the sector in the UAE.

It also describes levels of co-operation between the ministry and the private sector as "weak".

In line with the government's Vision 2021 – a national agenda setting out strategies to help the country prosper in the future – the UAE aims to generate 27 per cent of its energy from clean sources by 2021.

The mission statement also calls for the country to cut its greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2017, the UAE announced its ambitions to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent by 2050, increase clean energy use by 50 per cent and improve energy efficiency by 40 per cent by the middle of the century, resulting in savings worth Dh700 billion.

FNC members will debate renewable energy policies with a delegation from the Ministry of Energy during the meeting on Tuesday, in a bid to find out how their plans for the future are shaping up.

The council will also be in session on Wednesday to analyse the Ministry of Justice's policies regarding lawyers, including discussions on laws regulating the profession, licensing procedures and efforts to encourage more Emiratis to become qualified.