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UAE Plant Achieves Sustainability Milestone With Waste Power | |
| Sumita Pawar |
The Sharjah Waste to Energy Plant, the first of its kind in the region, has generated enough power to supply 2,000 homes using household and industrial waste in its first year of operation.
The plant, which offset 150,000 metric tonnes of carbon emissions, processed over 100,000 metric tonnes of waste, equivalent to that produced by 180,000 people, which was diverted from landfills and turned into clean energy.
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The initiative is part of Emirates Waste to Energy, a joint venture between Beeah Energy and Masdar that aims to process 300,000 metric tonnes of waste annually.
"The Sharjah Waste to Energy plant is an example of successful collaboration towards the UAE’s sustainability agenda," said Khaled Al Huraimel, group chief executive of Beehah.
"In partnership with Masdar, we have pioneered a waste-to-energy innovation that adds to the national clean energy mix while also accelerating towards our zero-waste to landfill targets in Sharjah.
"We have also achieved 90 percent landfill waste diversion, a record for the Middle East, which highlights the positive impact energy innovations can have for sustainable waste management.
The plant will eventually produce 30 megawatts of power annually and displace almost 450,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
The UAE is investing Dh600 billion ($163 billion) in clean and renewable energy sources in the next three decades and is aiming to divert 75% of solid waste from landfills.
Cop28 Summit: UAE's Commitment to Climate Action
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, President-designate of Cop28, has spoken of the need for the international community to turn talk into action to protect the planet.
Dr. Al Jaber, who is also UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said he is optimistic that foundations for success will be laid at Cop28.
"There is no shortage of ideas or consensus on what needs to be done. What’s missing is getting it done," he said.
"I believe that the collective will and convening power in this room can make the necessary progress by Cop28 in November, lay the foundation for a successful climate summit, and restore trust in the multilateral system.
"Our planet and our people, especially the most vulnerable, are depending on it."