Dubai’s use of solar power increased in 2022

Dubai’s use of solar power increased in 2022, authorities said Sunday. 

The CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, said that Dubai’s production capacity for “clean energy” reached 2,027 megawatts (MW). He specifically cited photovoltaic solar power and concentrated solar power. Such energy now accounts for 14% of Dubai’s total 14,517 MW production capacity, the official Emirates News Agency reported. 

What it means: Photovoltaic solar power and concentrated solar power differ somewhat. Concentrated solar power refers to the use of mirrors to convert energy from the sun into heat. Solar panels use light from the sun, as opposed to its energy, according to the Toronto-based solar marketplace SolarFeeds.

Why it matters: The announcement indicates an increase in Dubai’s solar power capacity. Solar power accounted for around 10% of the Emirate’s energy mix in mid-2021, according to the Dubai government. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a whole is gravitating toward renewable energy. The Dubai-based energy company AMEA Power is playing a particularly large role in the transition. Last December, AMEA Power was awarded a solar contract in South Africa. In November, the company announced the finalizations of its plans for wind and solar power projects in Egypt. 

Know more: The UAE is not abandoning oil and gas. Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed in September to supply Germany with natural gas, for example. Emirati officials have also warned against underinvestment in oil and gas.