Rapid economic growth will see Dubai’s power demand double by 2015 and the emirate is looking at energy conservation and solar and wind schemes to help meet its electricity needs, said His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

In an interview with Pipeline Magazine recently, he said, even under modest growth scenarios, Dubai’s electricity demand is expected to double by 2015.

“Trying to stay ahead of that kind of growth is going to become more and more challenging. Dubai’s development drive has turned the tiny emirate into the commercial hub of the world’s top oil exporting region, and power demand is soaring, said Shaikh Mohammed adding power consumption in 2006 rose nearly 30 per cent, according to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).

Shaikh Mohammed wants to achieve economic growth of 11 per cent per year up to 2015. He said the emirate’s use of energy was inefficient and among the highest per capita in the world. Dubai is famed for its air-conditioned shopping malls and also has an indoor ski slope in the desert.

“There seems to be no doubt in anyone’s mind that better energy conservation is a key initiative going forward for Dubai,” he said. Around 14 per cent of peak electricity demand could be saved by 2015 through a demand management programme, he said.
The best option for Dubai would be solar, he said adding that the government is also studying the use of wind power.