Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) has projected a sharp rise in Abu Dhabi’s solar energy capacity, with installed solar power expected to grow by nearly 2,000% between 2020 and 2030, reaching 17.5 gigawatts (GW).
The company said solar capacity is anticipated to exceed 30GW by 2035, with renewable solar energy contributing approximately 40% of Abu Dhabi’s total electricity generation mix.
EWEC shared the projections while marking the International Day of Light, a global initiative led by UNESCO that highlights the importance of light in science, innovation, and sustainable development.
According to EWEC, this year’s theme, “Light for a Sustainable Future,” aligns with the company’s long-term strategy to expand clean energy generation and accelerate Abu Dhabi’s transition toward a lower-carbon energy system.
As part of its renewable energy expansion plans, EWEC has already commissioned several large-scale solar developments, including Noor Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra Solar PV, Al Ajban Solar PV, Khazna Solar PV, and Zarraf Solar PV.
The company is also partnering with Masdar on a major renewable energy and storage initiative that combines a 5.2GW solar photovoltaic facility with a 19 gigawatt-hour battery energy storage system designed to provide continuous renewable electricity supply.
Adel Alsaeedi said the company’s solar expansion roadmap aims to support decarbonization efforts, strengthen energy security, and drive sustainable economic growth across the emirate.
EWEC stated that integrating solar photovoltaic systems with battery storage technology is expected to significantly lower emissions from electricity and water production. The company forecasts that the average carbon dioxide intensity of electricity generation will decline by 51% by 2030 compared with 2019 levels.
The carbon intensity of water production is also expected to decrease by 94% by 2030, supported by wider adoption of reverse osmosis technology and the continued separation of water desalination and power generation operations.
According to EWEC, reverse osmosis is projected to account for 92% of Abu Dhabi’s total water production capacity by 2030.
The utility company added that its broader clean energy strategy is expected to reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 46% by 2035 compared with 2019 levels.
To support the rapid growth of renewable energy, EWEC is also advancing grid infrastructure upgrades, including plans to integrate more than 8GW of long-duration battery energy storage systems by 2035.
