Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has reported that Abu Dhabi’s energy sector’s total electricity generation reached 85 Gigawatt hours, GWh, in 2019 - an increase of 1.33 percent from 2018.
The department, which is responsible for regulating the UAE capital’s energy sector, also revealed that the total available electricity generation capacity was 17,636 Megawatts, MW, in 2019, an increase of 6 percent from 16,623 MW in 2018, according to a report.
Sultan Naser Al Shkeili, Energy - Pricing & Tariffs Director at DoE, said: "The electricity sector is of fundamental importance within the energy ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, as it is the main engine for operations in all sectors, especially industrial and residential. Abu Dhabi is witnessing an increasing demand for electricity as a result of the emirate’s sustained economic growth. This requires us to develop more policies regulating the electricity sector – policies that guarantee the provision of services of the highest quality and efficiency at all times."
He added: "Abu Dhabi’s electricity sector is characterised by durability, high flexibility, and a large production capacity that can meet the needs of all sectors. In order to continuously enhance the sector’s capacity, we are committed to promoting the use of modern technology in the various stages of electricity production and distribution and through enhancing infrastructure, including facilities and buildings. We are also counting heavily on generating energy from renewable and clean sources in order to enhance our efforts to achieve sustainability across the entire energy sector in Abu Dhabi."
With regard to electricity generation technologies in Abu Dhabi, DoE revealed the percentages of energy generated through different technologies over the 12-month period. Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) contributed 85% of the total energy produced, with the share of co-generation stations, Co-gen, and open cycle gas-turbine being 13 percent. Renewables from SHAMS and Noor accounted for around 2% of the electricity generation mix in Abu Dhabi.
DoE confirmed that the share of clean energy will continue to grow in the coming years in light of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. Located in the Al Dhafra Region in Abu Dhabi, the plant - with its planned commissioning in 2021 - will generate up to 1,400 MW of electricity when fully operational. With its four APR1400 reactors, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will be one of the most technologically advanced nuclear reactor designs in the world and will meet the highest international standards for safety and performance.
DoE indicated that the peak demand load of Abu Dhabi Distribution Company, ADDC, grew by 0.9 percent from 2018 to reach 6,081 MW in 2019, while that of Al Ain Distribution Company, AADC, grew by 2.4 percent to reach 2,376 MW.
With respect to energy transmission, DoE stated that Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company, (Transco) is the sole electricity transmission licensee in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It operates the high voltage network (400 – 132 Kilovolts, KV, transporting large volumes of electricity from production companies to distribution companies, high demand customers connected at the transmission system and to the northern emirates. Transco is also interconnected with the 400 KV GCC interconnection.
DoE also highlighted that the emirate has 468 primary substations and 36,004 distribution stations, while the length of electricity cables and overhead lines is 71,640 km and the number of electricity connected customers are 543,950. It also indicated that ADDC and AADC own and operate the medium voltage network (33 - 22- 11kV) transporting electricity from the transmission system to homes and businesses across the emirate.
