Dubai announces another year of positive results and savings for the Demand Side Management Strategy 2030

The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy launched its 2015 Annual Report for the Demand Side Management Strategy at WETEX 2016.

The Council announced another year of positive results of the Demand Side Management (DSM) strategy of Dubai, which delivered over 5% of electricity consumption savings and over 3% of water consumption savings compared to business as usual consumption. This corresponds respectively to 2.1 TWh per year of final energy saved, and to 3.4 Billion Imperial Gallons per year of desalinated water saved.

Dubai Supreme Council of Energy mandated the DSM Strategy for electricity and water in June 2013, with the end objectives of saving 30% of electricity consumption and 30% of water consumption by 2030 compared to business as usual.

The Demand Side Management Strategy covers the period from 2013 to 2030 and comprises 9 Programs including Building Regulations, Building Retrofits, District Cooling, Standards and Labels for Appliances and Equipment, Water Reuse and Irrigation, Outdoor Lighting, Management of Tariffs, Demand Response and Shams Dubai. The Strategy is accompanied by several enabling mechanisms which are aligned with current international best practices from similar programs implemented worldwide. They include institutions and capacity-building, public awareness, adequate policy and regulatory frameworks, information systems, measurement and verification and financing mechanisms. Furthermore, the Government of Dubai is committed to leading by example in setting high standards of energy efficiency.

Implementation of the strategy is supervised by the Supreme Council of Energy through a specific Executive Committee and managed by TAQATI, a dedicated office appointed by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy to provide guidance and support to all participating entities. Each DSM Program has an assigned Program Owner, including Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Municipality, Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, Etihad Energy Services Company, the Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau, Road and Transport Authority.

HE Ahmad Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of DSCE said: "Increasing efficiency in the use of electricity and water is a key part of Dubai’s drive to enhance sustainability of its economy".

He added: "The DSM Strategy and its associated action plans contribute to the deployment of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, and is consistent with key pillars of the UAE agenda, including the UAE-wide Green Economy for Sustainable Development, Green Growth initiatives as well as National Agenda UAE 2021 vision".