As we begin to reconcile and reconnect with a world disrupted by a pandemic that knows no bounds, the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement loom large on a horizon moving ever closer. If we are to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, increase the renewable energy market share and improve energy efficiencies, innovation in the renewable energy industry is essential in the next decade. Though the ask is tall, the task is not improbable. In fact, it is very achievable.
But let us dispel a common misconception: innovation does not mean new technologies, not always. Though these two concepts are often intertwined, they are not the same. While the requisite research and development will continue to procure and test new tech to advance our renewable energy capabilities, we can innovate in more ways than just this one. Indeed, this point will form a key tenet of the third biennial, and first virtual International Renewable Energy Agency's (Irena) Innovation Week, which ends on Thursday.
Innovation has been at the heart of our industry since its inception. Thanks to a tireless desire to produce cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions, renewables now represent the most cost-effective solutions for generating new power in many economies. Indeed, owing to increased deployment and technological acceleration, solar photovoltaic, or PV, module prices have fallen by up to 90 per cent since the end of 2009, according to an Irena cost analysis report from 2019 – a particular sign of encouragement for the sun-drenched UAE, and other Gulf economies pursuing energy diversification strategies.
Today, renewables account for one-third of total global power generation, and we are witnessing substantial growth in variable renewable energy solutions. Yet, it is still the case that heavy industry and transport sectors alone will account for 38 per cent of all CO2 emissions globally in 2050, unless we oversee significant changes to policymaking and approaches to energy production and consumption.
To achieve zero emissions in these heavy industries and transport sectors, and limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C, renewables must comprise up to 50 per cent of the final energy demand in these sectors by 2050, according to Irena’s latest analysis. They currently provide just under 25 per cent. To summarise: further innovation is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
So, how do we get there? We require solutions that will make the world’s energy production, transmission and consumption more flexible, allow for a higher, cost-effective use of renewables and empower a new generation of consumers.
We have seen in recent years how the concepts of electrification, decentralisation and digitalisation have affected a shift in policymaking and procurement paradigms, unlocking flexible systems for increased deployment of renewable technologies across the world – importantly, to developing economies – especially with solar and hydrogen production and storage. On this topic, Irena's "30 Innovation Briefs" outline innovation priorities that policymakers must address to decarbonise electricity systems in the Covid-19 recovery phase.
When it comes to solar power production, emerging fourth industrial revolution, or 4IR, technologies have facilitated and accelerated efficiencies at an impressive rate. Automation technologies such as additive and 3D printing, for instance, have dramatically cut operational costs for solar power hardware. In some instances, PV panels can now be produced three times bigger in a fraction of the time – multi-day processes have been reduced to a matter of hours. Such innovative processes mean that the UAE, which already comprises more than two-thirds of the GCC’s total installed renewable energy capacity, according to Irena figures from 2018, can accelerate its ambition to generate 50 per cent of its power from renewables by mid-century, in line with UAE Energy Strategy 2050.
Beyond solar power production, 4IR technologies will also play a key role in integrating more renewable energy into the grid. For instance, blockchain technologies can provide new ways of operating the electricity system, by allowing the integration of higher shares of variable renewable power generation.
Dubai is home to the world's first functional 3D printed offices. The UAE aims to have 25 per cent of its buildings similarly manufactured by 2030. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
Blockchain can not only empower consumers of electricity by allowing them to take control of their energy consumption habits and payment plans, but it allows system operators of distributed generation to optimise grid operations by managing all connected devices through one centralised smart device, enabling flexibility and real-time pricing.
When it comes to renewable hydrogen, it can further support the integration of renewable electricity generation by decoupling it from local use at a given time to balance demand and supply. The versatility of stored hydrogen gas means that it can be used in a wide range of applications, such as power plants, storage, transportation, and even in homes and businesses. Its wider usage should be further considered.
The GCC governments are developing new solar power plants as part of their strategy to increase renewable energy output. Courtesy Government of Dubai
New storage methods are also a critical component of an innovative renewable energy landscape. Battery storage systems are emerging as one of the key solutions to effectively integrate high shares of solar renewables in power systems worldwide. Recent research from Irena has outlined how electricity storage technologies can be used for a variety of applications in the power sector, from e-mobility and behind-the-meter applications to utility-scale use cases.
As these new technologies develop, we must remain mindful that they should not only carry greater economic potential, but also contribute to a lasting, positive impact on our social development and people’s livelihoods.
Commuters wait for their bus outside the airconditioned bus stop along al Falah Street in central Abu Dhabi on a Friday afternoon All photos by. All photos by Victor Besa /The National
Mustaffa, eleven, waits for his bread to be baked with his uncle Abdul Qader outside the Naser Bader Bakery.
Abdul Rahman has been working at Naser Bader Bakery along Al Falah Street, Abu Dhabi for almost five years now.
The new air-conditioned bus stops around Abu Dhabi with Covid-19 restrictions.
Pedestrians cross the street at central Abu Dhabi on Friday afternoon.
Commuters get off the bus at Abu Dhabi on a Friday afternoon.
Commuters get off the bus at Abu Dhabi on a Friday afternoon.
E-scooter riders along Al Falah Street in central Abu Dhabi on a Friday afternoon.
This is where innovation must transcend technologies and seep into the thinking of policymakers. We must look to initiate new, agile business models that champion the case for new services and incentivise further integration of renewable energy technologies – whether that is through energy-as-a-service, peer-to-peer trading or pay-as-you-go models. Furthermore, we should be looking to design new market structures and regulatory frameworks that stimulate new opportunities for market entrants, incentivising entrepreneurship and innovative start-ups.
It is these brains that we need in these times. Indeed, at times of great change, the ability to adapt and innovate determines whether we succeed or fail in the future. 2020 is one such epochal time; a watershed year that will define how we and our progeny live in the years ahead, and for how much longer our species will live on this planet. And the global energy transition is the best place to start our adaptation to this new normal by embracing an intuitive spirit of innovation.
Dr Nawal Al-Hosany is a permanent representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Stoke City v Tottenham
Brentford v Newcastle United
Arsenal v Manchester City
Everton v Manchester United
All ties are to be played the week commencing December 21.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE) Where: Anfield, Liverpool Live: BeIN Sports HD Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66
South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
Manifest cargo
Excess luggage in the hold
Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
