PARIS // Commitment to research and development in renewable energy is key to ensuring the future of the UAE and the region, say Emirati leaders at the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).
During an event at the Cop21 talks, what can be achieved for a renewable future was being showcased to world leaders.
“In the UAE, clean energy is a key pillar of diversifying our economy into knowledge-driven industries,” said Minister of State Dr Sultan Al Jaber.
“Our commitment to innovation has been among the most ambitious in the world. Just this week the UAE joined Mission Innovation, pledging to double our investment in clean energy research and development.”
The mission, launched by US president Barack Obama and French leader Francois Hollande at Cop21, is an initiative aimed at pushing public and private global clean energy innovation to address global climate change.
Signatories, which includes the UAE, among others, will commit to doubling their investment in researching new technologies. This is considered a sign that the UAE is aiming to begin developing technologies with scalable potential.
Adnan Amin, Irena director general, said the region was beginning to implement technologies developed abroad. Perhaps what was more impressive was that the development was also happening domestically in the GCC and the UAE in particular.
“The winds of change are blowing across the Mena region. We are seeing the region becoming a potential bellwether for the future energy system. The system will look dramatically different than it does today,” he said.
However, despite the inherent issues embedded in reliance on fossil fuels, Mr Amin said the countries’ commitment to developing technology was an indication of their true intention.
“When countries begin to look for solutions through technology, through innovation, that is when you see true commitment, such as with the UAE.”
Mr Amin said it was not a question of if the world would transition to renewable energy, but how quickly it could.
“The energy choices we make in the next few years will determine whether we are able to close the emissions gap, and in doing so secure a liveable climate where future generations can thrive.”
As it stands, the demand for energy is on the rise. According to a report by the Renewable Energy Policies Network for the 21st century, for the first time in 40 years, global carbon emissions associated with energy consumption remained stable while the economy grew.
Dr Ahmad Belhoul, Masdar chief executive, said this was very much a vision of the future of renewable energy as technology and policy worked together.
He said the UAE could become not only a developer of these technologies but also an exporter and supplier of this energy.
“The technology is there, the policy alignment is there and also the innovation is there. These three elements together makes us very optimistic about the growth of renewable energy in our region,” he said.
The way forward, he said, was based on forming cooperation between institutions, as technology transfer, a key pillar of the draft agreement currently under negotiation, was key in developing a renewable future.
nalwasmi@thenational.ae