Landmark growth to be accelerated further through world-leading utility-scale solar power and battery energy storage projects
EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company), a leading company in the integrated planning, purchasing, supply and system despatch of water and electricity across the UAE, today announced that renewable and clean energy generation across Abu Dhabi, powered by nuclear, solar, and wind, has increased by over 1,000 per cent between 2020 and 2025, reflecting the success of the Emirate's energy transition.
This progress reflects EWEC’s long-term capacity planning and the integration of renewable and clean energy technologies into Abu Dhabi’s power system. The four units of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the first nuclear energy plant in the Arab world, were brought online progressively between 2020 and 2024, establishing a continuous source of emissions-free baseload power. Over the same period, transformative projects commissioned and developed by EWEC’s significantly expanded renewable generation, including Al Dhafra Solar PV and Noor Abu Dhabi, two of the world’s largest single-site solar power generation plants.
EWEC's latest consolidated operational data shows that renewable and clean electricity generation sources now account for almost 46 per cent of Abu Dhabi's total power generation, up from under 5 per cent in 2020. Between 2020 and 2025, renewable and clean energy generation increased from approximately 4,100 gigawatt hours (GWh) to more than 49,300GWh.
Mohamed Almarzooqi, Chief Assets Officer of EWEC, said: “The scale of progress achieved over the past five years demonstrates the impact of EWEC’s long-term planning and the disciplined integration of a diversified renewable and clean energy portfolio. By integrating nuclear, solar and wind generation into the UAE’s electricity system at scale, we are reducing carbon intensity while maintaining the reliability and security of supply needed to support the UAE’s continued economic growth. We continue to build on this momentum by advancing further renewable and clean energy capacity, strengthening system flexibility and enabling a more resilient and sustainable energy system for Abu Dhabi and the UAE.”
Through the accelerated scaling of renewable and clean energy, EWEC is supporting the realisation of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 for Electricity Production in Abu Dhabi and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, cementing Abu Dhabi's position as a global leader in the energy transition.
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About Emirates Water and Electricity Company
EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company) is the sole procurer and supplier of water and electricity in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. EWEC drives the planning, forecasting, purchasing, and system despatch services of water and electricity. EWEC fulfils these vital responsibilities through the short-term and long-term balancing of bulk supply and demand for distribution companies and authorities in Abu Dhabi and other Emirates. EWEC is supporting the government of Abu Dhabi and the government of the UAE by enabling the reduction of cost whilst also providing the increased security of supply that comes from a cleaner, larger, and more integrated system.
EWEC is mandated to implement strategic initiatives that will achieve the 60 per cent clean energy target outlined in the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's (DoE) Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 for Electricity Production in Abu Dhabi, in addition to enabling the achievement of UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, UAE Energy Strategy by 2050, and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. EWEC is accelerating Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s energy transition by diversifying the country’s energy mix through developing and deploying renewable and clean energy as well as low-carbon intensive water desalination capacities. For more information, please visit: www.ewec.ae.
