February Edition 2021

10 How is it elsewhere? All eyes on Biden administration The UAE , which recently normalized its relations with Israel, aims to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix from 25% to 50% by 2050, targeting an energy mix of 44% renewables, 38% gas, 12% clean coal, and 6% nuclear. Initiatives include the Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar power project in the world, with a planned capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030. By contrast, fossil fuels are set to remain the dominant source of electricity across Africa over the next decade, according to a new study. By 2030, the study suggests that coal, oil and gas will continue to dominate the generation of electricity across 54 African countries, with just 9.6% coming from renewable sources, excluding hydro power. Across the Atlantic, all eyes will be on President Biden, who has already recommitted the U.S. to the Paris Climate Agreement, the global pact forged five years ago among nearly 200 nations to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The centerpiece of Biden’s energy and climate proposals is a call for investing USD 1.7 Trillion over ten years to promote a portfolio of clean energy technologies. It would support advancing electric vehicles, building a national vehicle charging network, accelerating the smart grid and battery storage, scaling up tax credits for renewable technologies and nurturing next-generation energy sources like hydrogen and advanced nuclear power plants. In2019, renewableenergy sources accounted for 18%of the total electricity generation, with wind and hydropower accounting for 7% each. About 63% of the total came from fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, petroleum, and other gases) and 20% from nuclear energy.