Abu Dhabi's power and water utility says carbon emissions from electricity and desalination can fall by more than 45% by 2035, even while demand keeps climbing. The forecast lands as Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) pairs a larger solar build-out with battery storage and a shift in how Abu Dhabi makes drinking water.
On Zero Emissions Day, 21 September 2026, EWEC published a long-term system outlook covered by The National and carried in the company's press release on Zawya and by the Emirates News Agency (WAM). Total emissions from power and water production are projected to drop from about 42 million tonnes in 2019 to about 23 million tonnes in 2035. That cut of more than 45% is expected even though annual electricity demand is forecast to rise by around 70% between 2026 and 2033, driven by economic and population growth.
Mohamed Almarzooqi, chief assets officer at EWEC, said the plan is to grow infrastructure and cut emissions at the same time. "We are actively procuring the utility-scale solar photovoltaic, battery storage and reverse osmosis desalination capacity required to deliver this outcome, structurally reducing the reliance of the system on gas-fired generation," he said in the company statement. He added that the shift should help Abu Dhabi and the UAE build a more diversified, resilient and low-carbon system while keeping water and energy security intact.
Solar power and reverse-osmosis desalination are the main levers. According to EWEC, Abu Dhabi's solar capacity is being scaled to 14 gigawatts by 2030 and more than 35GW by 2035, backed by up to 15GW of battery storage. As those assets come online, gas-fired plants are expected to play a smaller role, though they will still firm intermittent renewable output. On the water side, reverse osmosis is forecast to account for more than 95% of total water production by 2035, replacing more energy-intensive thermal desalination.
EWEC says the programme supports the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategy. For residents and businesses, the near-term signal is clearer: more utility-scale solar and storage on the procurement path, and a water system that relies far less on heat-driven desalination as demand grows.