Formulation of an Integrated Energy Strategy for Abu Dhabi based on a Holistic Optimization of the Country's Energy Resources

Abstract

The stability of Abu Dhabi's energy sector, hence the stability of its economy are strongly coupled to volatile fuel prices and exhaustible resources therefore explicitly reflecting a future of energy security concerns. As such, the development of a bottom-up and technology-explicit model supports the optimal energy diversification targets and national strategy direction essential to Abu Dhabi's future energy security needs. The current work addresses this challenge through the development of an integrated energy sector model whose purpose is to serve as a tool for decision makers. This thesis contributes to on going research in the field of national energy planning to devise policies that will promote sustainability in this sector within Abu Dhabi's economy. It showcases the formulation framework that will facilitate scenario analysis leading into policy recommendations that will promote sustainability in this sector. The major strength of the model lies in its ability to capture existing energy flows starting from resource management, to process technologies, and finally end use demand. The objective of the developed model is to minimize energy supply costs in the production function, while ensuring that end users' demand will be met. A set of scenarios were introduced in this study to: i) assess how the roadmap to a low carbon economy should be paved; and ii) analyse the impact of current and future energy conservation efforts, such as the introduction of renewable energy into the energy mix, on the cost of electricity and amount of imported natural gas and exported oil revenue streams. Results highlight the crucial role of both solar and nuclear power in addressing increasing demand, while addressing the embedded environmental constraints. The model highlights the impact of emission factors on the distribution of energy generation from cleaner sources and the need for emission penalties and stringent carbon dioxide emission caps. The novelty of this work lies in providing modelling scenario results in line with prominent energy planning tools, such as MARKAL, which will serve as the starting point for future studies in long-term efforts to devise Abu Dhabi's comprehensive energy strategy.

Date of Award	2014
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Toufic Mezher (Supervisor)