Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has announced that the UAE has become the first country in the world to produce aluminium using solar power.

According to a statement from EGA, DEWA will supply EGA’s smelter with 560,000 MWh of solar power yearly from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, sufficient to make 40,000 tonnes of aluminium in the first year with the potential for significant expansion.

EGA stated that it will supply solar aluminium to global customers under the new product name CelestiAL, according to the agreement. The milestone also supports the UAE’s vision to be the most sustainable city in the world, and to take the lead in development and application of scientific and technological advances in the energy sector.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA and vice chairman of EGA, said: “This global achievement of both DEWA and EGA confirms our firm commitment to achieving the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in building a green economy in UAE, and reaching the goals of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 in diversifying energy sources and providing 75% of Dubai’s energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.”

HE Al Tayer added: “The new achievement contributes to supporting our efforts in reducing carbon emissions through the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy. Dubai reduced 22% in carbon emissions in 2019 compared to business as usual. Results achieved exceeded the targets set in the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 16% by 2021”.

Meanwhile, Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive officer of EGA said: “Aluminium is lightweight, strong and infinitely recyclable metal and these properties mean that as a material it plays a vital global role in the development of a sustainable future. However, it also matters how sustainably aluminium is made. CelestiAL, aluminium made in the UAE with solar power, will help make modern life possible for people around the world whilst protecting our planet for future generations. This is a great milestone for the UAE and our industry.”

EGA stated that its sourcing of solar power from Dubai’s electricity grid will be tracked and traced through the use of the International Renewable Energy Certification System, ensuring that the energy used to produce EGA’s CelestiAL solar aluminium has been sourced from the sun.