Energy efficiency improvements across existing industrial infrastructure could provide the quickest route to achieving net-zero carbon goals in the Gulf, according to Mohamed Mutlaq, Vice President of the Motion Services Division at ABB Middle East and Africa, reported by Gulf Business. Mutlaq observed that regional discussions on energy transition frequently focus on building new solar and wind installations while overlooking potential savings within industrial motor rooms.
Electric motors power essential machinery, including pumps, fans, and compressors across industrial manufacturing plants, water distribution networks, and commercial buildings. According to ABB, these systems account for approximately 60 percent of the electricity consumed by the regional industrial sector.
Despite their heavy electricity consumption, only about 25 percent of industrial motors in the region are currently equipped with variable speed drives, which match motor output directly to process demand. Pairing motors with drives allows facilities to cut unnecessary energy waste without the lengthy lead times and high capital expenditure required to construct new power plants.
The call for efficiency measures comes as electricity demand in the UAE is projected to rise from approximately 173 TWh to 225 TWh by 2040. Maximizing the efficiency of installed industrial machinery could help bridge this demand surge while keeping regional decarbonization plans on schedule.
Sources
- Gulf Business · 2026-10-08
