Energy in the United Arab Emirates
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In 2024, fossil fuels, primarily natural gas, accounted for about 75% of the UAE's electricity capacity, while the remainder came from nuclear and solar energy sources.
Overview
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Oil production
In June 2010 UAE had 6th top global proved oil reserves, about 100 billion barrels, behind Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait. The crude oil production of UAE was more than 4 and less than 5 million barrels daily.
UAE was 4th top crude oil net exporter (108 Mt in 2008) and 10th top crude oil producers (120 Mt in 2009).
Gas production
UAE has 7th top global proved natural gas reserves, above 6 trillion cubic metres. The global gas production in 2009 was 3 trillion cubic meters.
Solar
The UAE has massive solar generation potential, and its energy policy has shifted substantially due to the declining price of solar. Total installed solar power capacity in the UAE was over 5 gigawatts (GW) after switching on the 2 gigawatt (GW) Al Dhafra solar project in November 2023, up from 133 MW in 2014. Solar energy provided 4.5% of national electricity generation in the UAE in 2022 and 8.3% in 2023, compared to 0.3% in 2014.
Nuclear
The UAE is installing nuclear power plants to meet its electricity needs. It has signed an agreement with the U.S. on nuclear cooperation, and is also a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
As of March 2024, all four new nuclear reactors are now fully operational in the Barakah Nuclear station, producing 5,348 MWe of electricity and allowing the UAE to produce 40 TWh of electricity per year.
Climate change
United Arab Emirates was 6th top carbon dioxide emitter per capita in the world in 2009: 40.31 tonnes per capita. Top countries were (tonnes/capita): Gibraltar 152, U.S. Virgin Islands 114, Qatar 80, Netherlands Antilles 51 and Bahrain 43. All emissions from building and cement production are local but some people may argue that some United Arab Emirates produced fuels and/or goods are consumed abroad. The UAE has begun acting aggressively to reduce its carbon emissions. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) plans a 250 MW pumped-storage hydroelectricity at Hatta using 3,300,000 cubic metres (880,000,000 US gal) of water and 300 meter above a lower dam.
UAE is planning to generate half of its electrical energy by 2050 from solar and nuclear sources, targeting 44% renewables, 38% gas, 12% clean coal, and 6% nuclear energy sources.
The UAE intends to introduce electrification into the vehicle park. By 2030, the UAE wants to have 40,000 electric cars on its roads. As of September 2020, there were only 1,900 electric cars registered in the UAE.
In February 2024, British firm Hycap opened offices in Abu Dhabi, UAE, planning a hydrogen-focused complex in the region.