TAQA, DEWA unveil visions for sustainable future
28 May 2025 00:37
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Two leading players in the UAE's utilities sector - TAQA Water Solutions and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) - unveiled their visions for a sustainable future at the World Utilities Congress 2025.Speaking to Aletihad, Eng. Abdulwahab Sharif, Chief Business Development Officer at TAQA Water Solutions, emphasised the company's dedication to sustainable water management and global innovation.'We are keen to show our commitment to the global agenda when it comes to sustainable water solutions,' Eng. Sharif said.He described the company's core mission: 'Our mandate is to collect, treat and reuse every drop of wastewater in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.'Currently, TAQA Water Solutions treats over one million cubic metres of wastewater per day, with a reuse rate of approximately 80%, largely for landscaping, agriculture, and industrial purposes.'This is a record number. We are very proud to share this with the world, and we are aiming to reach 100%,' he added.Highlighting the technologies in use, Eng. Sharif explained: 'We work with local and global partners, using different technologies tailored for each system. We are using the latest solutions available in the field.'A key innovation showcased at the Congress is SCADA - an AI-powered intelligent system that monitors and manages operational assets in real time.'SCADA gives you visibility of all your assets and how they are being operated. It collects sensor data and helps optimise performance,' he said.TAQA Water Solutions is also taking its expertise abroad. 'We have started looking at how to take our knowledge overseas,' Eng. Sharif noted.'One of the recent developments is in Uzbekistan. Together with our partners, we are going to develop the largest wastewater treatment plant in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, with a capacity of one million cubic metres per day.'Also under development is a project to collect water from mountainous regions and use gravity-powered hydroelectricity to carry, treat, and supply it to the new Tashkent city. 'This is a mega project we are proud to announce, still in the development phase,' he said.Eng. Sharif strongly advocated for the use of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) in industrial applications. 'We take the wastewater, treat it further, and reuse it in industry - instead of consuming the precious potable water produced through desalination.'Reflecting on the broader significance of water sustainability, he remarked: 'Water is the most important sector in the whole emirate - more important than energy. It is the source of life. Without water, there is no life.''Our mission is to ensure that every drop is used properly, and our vision is to be a global pioneer in sustainable solutions,' he concluded. 'Globally, there is a lot of emphasis on reusing water. As aquifers are being depleted and desalination becomes more costly, water reuse is emerging as a crucial alternative.'Meanwhile, Eng. Meera Baqer, Solar Energy Engineer at DEWA, highlighted the UAE's flagship renewable energy initiative.'We are here today at the World Utilities Congress 2025 to showcase our project, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park - the largest single-site solar park in the world developed using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model,' she said.'To date, the current capacity of the park has reached 3,860 MW.'
She further noted that DEWA plans to ramp up the park's capacity. 'By 2030, the solar park's production capacity is set to reach 7,260MW. Therefore, once fully completed, it will reduce carbon emissions by 8 million tonnes annually.'
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