The United Arab Emirates has dramatically expanded its renewable energy infrastructure over the past decade, with installed renewable capacity rising more than 63-fold as the country works to diversify its power mix and strengthen its clean-energy ambitions.
Renewable energy capacity increased from 129 megawatts (MW) in 2015 to more than 8.2 gigawatts (GW) in 2025, according to Sharif Al Olama, undersecretary for energy and petroleum affairs at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
The figures, reported by the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM), underline the scale of the UAE’s investment in renewable power and the wider modernization of its electricity sector.
Clean Energy Supplies Nearly One-Third of Power
Clean energy accounted for 32.4% of the UAE’s electricity generation in 2025. The government is targeting a further increase, with clean sources expected to contribute 35% of electricity generation by 2031.
The UAE generated 192,735 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity during 2025, compared with total electricity consumption of 174,524 GWh, according to WAM.
The increase in renewable generation comes as electricity demand continues to rise alongside population growth, industrial expansion and broader economic development.
Under the updated Energy Strategy 2050, the UAE intends to more than triple the contribution of renewable energy by 2030. The government estimates that between Dh150 billion ($40.8 billion) and Dh200 billion will need to be invested in the energy sector to accommodate rising demand and support long-term economic growth.
Grid Modernization Becomes a Key Priority
The UAE’s energy transition extends beyond adding new generation capacity. Authorities are also focusing on strengthening the national electricity grid and improving coordination between the country’s power networks.
Al Olama highlighted progress in expanding clean electricity generation, reinforcing grid infrastructure and enhancing connections between electricity networks.
Digital technologies and data-driven systems are also playing a growing role in managing the power sector. Authorities are using advanced monitoring and analysis tools to improve the grid’s ability to respond to changing patterns of electricity supply and demand.
The UAE has set a target of lowering its grid emission factor to 0.27 kilograms of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour by 2030. Officials say achieving the target would put the country among those with relatively low power-sector emissions.
Solar, Nuclear and Other Clean Sources
The UAE’s clean-energy portfolio extends across several technologies, including photovoltaic solar, concentrated solar power, nuclear energy, wind power and waste-to-energy projects.
Total installed clean-energy capacity reached 13,805 MW in 2025, while electricity generated from clean sources surpassed 62.4 GWh, according to WAM.
The continued expansion reflects the government’s broader strategy of securing reliable electricity supplies while reducing the environmental impact associated with power generation.
National Monitoring Centre Supports Grid Management
The country has also taken steps to improve oversight of its electricity infrastructure through the establishment of the Emirates Monitoring Centre.
Officials describe the facility as the UAE’s first national centre dedicated to real-time monitoring of the integrated electricity system.
The centre links the country’s four electricity utilities, giving authorities a broader view of network operations and enabling faster responses to changes in electricity supply and demand.
The development is part of a wider effort to create a more connected and responsive electricity system capable of supporting the UAE’s future energy requirements.
UAE Accelerates Clean-Energy Transition
The rapid increase in renewable capacity marks a significant change for the UAE, a major hydrocarbon-producing economy that is simultaneously investing in cleaner sources of electricity.
By expanding renewable and other low-carbon energy technologies while upgrading its electricity networks, the country is seeking to balance growing power demand with its emissions-reduction objectives.
Al Olama attributed the progress to cooperation between federal and local authorities, national energy companies and private-sector operators.
With renewable capacity now far above its 2015 level and further investment planned, the UAE is positioning clean electricity as an increasingly important part of its long-term energy strategy.
