Dubai, UAE: Stressing on the importance of developing future smart cities that make use of world-class infrastructure, H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has said that DEWA wants to provide efficient and transparent government services around the clock, exceeding the expectations of the UAE’s citizens and residents, and improving their quality of life.

Al Tayer, an announcement from DEWA said, was speaking at Schneider Electric’s 4th ‘Power to the Cloud’ Conference & Exhibition held on April 17 and 18.

According to DEWA, Al Tayer highlighted the three smart initiatives that were launched by the body in support of the Smart Dubai initiative. The Shams Dubai initiative, he explained, connects solar power in houses and buildings, and encourages households and building owners to install solar panels to produce electricity, which will be connected to the grid, to encourage the use of renewable energy; Smart Applications promotes smart consumption using smart meters, while the third initiative, Green Charger, is related to establishing the infrastructure and charging stations for electric vehicles. All this, he added, contribute to reducing the carbon footprint.

The three smart initiatives, Al Tayer said, support the UAE Vision 2021, Dubai Plan 2021 and the long-term Green Economy for Sustainable Development national initiative, in addition to complementing the goals of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75% of the emirate’s total power output from clean energy by 2050.

“Solar Power,” Al Tayer said, “is the most significant and strategic renewable resource in the UAE and the region. DEWA has embarked in stages on building the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park with a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030.” The project, upon completion, will be the largest single-site solar park in the world.

“All of these factors,” Al Tayer continued, “are key elements of smart cities that are sustainable, where all stakeholders will benefit and cooperate, including urban developers, water, electricity, communications, transportation, education, and healthcare service providers, and other government and private organisations.”

In addition to Al Tayer, the Schneider event attracted participation from H.E. Dr Rashid Al Leem, Chairman of Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA); H.E. Wesam Lootah, CEO of Smart Dubai Government and H.E. Majdi Abed, the French Consul General in Dubai. Frédéric Abbal, Executive Vice President of Energy Business at Schneider Electric; Benoit Dubarle, Regional President of GCC at Schneider Electric were also present on the occasion.

The conference featured discussions by leading international officials from Schneider Electric on such topics as the future of smart cities, smart grids, water treatment, plans regarding international practices for energy consumption and plans to develop a practical agenda capable of meeting energy requirements to build a better future through green cities.