Despite summer population drops, Abu Dhabi hit record electricity usage in August—a trend reflecting an expected doubling of grid demand by 2035 driven by industrial growth, AI infrastructure, and population expansion. To handle this demand and enhance grid resilience—which recently proved its reliability without service interruptions during regional drone and missile strikes—the emirate is investing $81.7 billion (300 billion dirhams) by 2035. This investment focuses heavily on transitioning clean energy from 47% of its power mix toward adding 3 GW of solar annually alongside battery storage, while fundamentally shifting seawater desalination from gas-fired thermal systems to electricity-driven reverse osmosis. Beyond domestic security, Abu Dhabi aims to leverage its resilient water technology and expertise as a global soft power tool, using upcoming international forums like the UN Water Conference to position itself as a global leader in addressing water scarcity (ICE DUBAI)

Fonte notizia: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/