Diesel Station Installed in Sector E18
A diesel station, installed in Sector E18, included three 1100 kWh generators, which, by today’s standards, would provide barely enough power for three or four medium-sized (18-storey) buildings.
1958
Discovered the First Offshore Oil Field
The Petroleum Development Company (Trucial States) discovered the first offshore oil field, and Abu Dhabi Marine Areas (ADMA) discovered oil at Umm Shaif.
Energy production increased to 7.5 MW
Energy production was increased to 7.5 MW, and more distribution substations were added to provide energy for the buildings located on the Corniche.
Formation of a Water and Electricity Management Council
The Founding Father the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ordered the formation of a water and electricity management council, headed by HH Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
1970
Water and electricity departments merged
The water and electricity departments were merged under the Water and Electricity Department, and this department was chaired by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
1980
Two Emirati engineers joined the team
Two Emirati engineers joined the team. They were Abdul Nasser Bin Howailel Al Mansouri and Sayah Bin Mousa Al Qubaisi. This marked the beginning of the planning of real water and electricity services in Abu Dhabi.
1988
The first water distillation plant in Abu Dhabi was established
The first water distillation plant in Abu Dhabi was established. The emirate had three large plants: Umm Al Nar, Taweelah, and A Mirfa. These plants were capable of meeting the water and electricity demands of the emirate at that time.
1990
Growth of the Electricity and Water Sector to be the Second Largest Sector in Abu Dhabi
after the Oil and Gas sector
1996
The Privatisation Committee was formed
The Privatisation Committee was formed (1996) under the Crown Prince’s Decision No. 1 of 1996 concerning the establishment of the Privatisation Committee for the Water and Electricity Sector. The Water and Electricity Sector was restructured (1998) by the issuance of Law No. 2 of 1998, forming ADWEA, RSB, and 12 separate companies, including the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (ADWEC) and four other water and electricity companies.
2006
Establishment of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company
The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) was established.
2008
The Zayed Future Energy Prize
HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the UAE, announced, during the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), the launch of the Zayed Future Energy Prize- a tribute to his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his legacy of environmental stewardship and sustainability.
2009
ENEC is established
The ENEC was established in 2009 for the development of a peaceful nuclear energy programme.
2011
First nuclear power plant in Baraka
The ground breaking for the first nuclear power plant occurred in Baraka.
2013
Shams 1 project launched
The Shams 1 project was launched. It was built on a site of 2.5 square kilometres in the Western Region. Shams 1 is the largest CSP plant in operation in the world.
2017
The world’s largest solar power plant
Noor Abu Dhabi, the world's largest independent solar power plant to be built in Abu Dhabi to supply the local grid with about 1177 MW of electricity in Sweihan.
2018
The Department of Energy Established
The Department of Energy (DoE) was established as per the decision of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Law No. 11 of 2018, which regulates the energy sector in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Announcement of Reverse Osmosis Independent Water Project at Taweelah
The Department of Energy (DoE) Abu Dhabi has announced the list of qualified companies to compete for the selection of a developer or developer consortium of the Independent Water Project (IWP) which will own up to 40% of the project’s share. The independent water plant project (IWP) will be established as per the laws of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates to produce 200 million gallons of desalinated water using reverse osmosis (RO) technology.
2019
Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant begins commercial operation
The 1,177 megawatt Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant has started commercial operation. With 3.2 million solar panels installed across an 8 square kilometre site, Noor Abu Dhabi is the world’s single largest solar project. It will provide enough power to meet the equivalent demand of 90,000 people. The Dh3.2 billion plant, located at Sweihan in Abu Dhabi, is a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Power Corporation and a consortium of Japan’s Marubeni Corp and China’s Jinko Solar Holding. At the time of bid submission the project attracted the world’s most competitive power tariff of 8.888 fils/kWh.
2020
The Operating Licence for Unit 1 of Barakah Nuclear Power Plant
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the UAE’s independent nuclear regulator, issued the Operating Licence for Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant to the Nawah Energy Company (Nawah), the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation’s (ENEC) subsidiary responsible for operation of the nuclear power plant located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi.