UAE is Key Partner in Global Coalitions to Boost Clean Energy Innovation and Deployment

ABU DHABI 1st December 2015 (WAM)--The United Arab Emirates is joining world leaders to accelerate clean energy innovation across the globe through Mission Innovation a multi-billion dollar clean tech initiative and the International Solar Alliance a coalition to advance new solar technologies.

The initiatives announced at the 21st meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris France reinforce the UAE's commitment to climate action.

"The UAE is embracing climate action as an opportunity to advance clean energy solutions through promising technologies and innovation" said Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber UAE Minister of State and UAE Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change. "The partnerships announced further support the UAE's economic diversification strategy and ensure a pathway toward a sustainable future."

Mission Innovation launched by U.S. President Barack Obama French President Hollande Francois and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is a global effort including the UAE to double their research and development budgets to boost clean energy deployment by 2020. A group of more than twenty private sector investors have also pledged to provide funding for cooperative projects.

Joining the Mission Innovation launch were Heads of States and key government officials of participating countries including the United States France United Arab Emirates India South Korea Saudi Arabia Indonesia Japan Norway United Kingdom Brazil and Chile.

Current innovations underway in the UAE include the development of the Middle East's first commercial-scale project for carbon capture and storage a partnership to produce sustainable biofuels from desert plants irrigated with seawater and a solar-powered desalination plant.

In a separate but related announcement Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Hollande introduced the International Solar Alliance a coalition of solar rich countries like the UAE United States Kenya Chile and Sri Lanka to promote the increased generation and deployment of solar energy.

"Harnessing solar innovation supports our efforts to create knowledge-based sectors and be competitive in a 21st century economy" said Dr. Al Jaber. "It also enables us to protect the environment and limit potential risks of climate change."

The UAE is already investing in solar energy at home establishing the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar complex and the "Shams 1" concentrated solar power station launched by Masdar in 2013. The UAE is also a key investor in solar energy initiatives abroad through Masdar projects such as Gemasolar Valle 1 and Valle 2 in Spain.

Through the Masdar Institute for Science and Technology the UAE is developing new competencies and energy solutions. Recently launched is the Masdar Institute solar power plant in Masdar City which is part of Masdar's Solar Power Center to serve as a research and testing platform for new solar technologies.

The Mission Innovation and International Solar Alliance announcements build on the UAE's ongoing efforts in clean energy innovation to address climate change and support the UAE's emerging role as a global leader in sustainable development.

"Clean energy is core to the UAE's climate action plan where we set an ambitious target to increase clean energy to 24 per cent of our total energy mix by 2021" said Dr. Al Jaber.

The clean energy announcements were made on the first day of COP21 the UN climate conference in Paris where leaders are expected to finalise a universal binding agreement on climate change. Outcomes of the negotiation process will be made public on December 11.