Dubai is set to bring online an additional 600MW of solar power capacity over the next three months from two separate projects. But while the emirate is a regional leader when it comes to advancing renewables, it is struggling to keep rapidly rising electricity consumption under control.

Saeed al-Tayer, CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), said earlier this month that the emirate’s electricity demand over the first five months of 2021 is up 10% year-on-year at 1.479TWh, with peak demand during the same period also up 10% at 7.25GW. If the trend continues throughout 2021 then peak demand is on course to rise from 9.1GW to 10GW (see chart 1). (CONTINUED - 747 WORDS)