Peak electricity demand in Abu Dhabi is set to rise to 10,196MW in 2014, a growth rate of 14 per cent. This is a 5 percentage point increase on the 9 per cent peak demand growth previously forecast for 2013, according to the latest data from Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Company (Adwec).

Adwec forecasts that power demand will remain strong in 2015, with a peak growth rate of 14 per cent that year too. The firm then expects the growth rate to fall to about 9 per cent in 2016, with demand of 12,599MW. Growth will fluctuate between 11 per cent and 2 per cent a year up to 2020.

Much of the 4,645MW additional consumption between 2012 and 2015, 1,377MW, will come from population growth in Abu Dhabi. Specifically, demand growth in 2013 and 2014 will come from the expansion and completion of several major residential and commercial real estate projects, such as the Raha Beach and Saadiyat Island developments.

Following just behind is additional demand from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), which Adwec estimates will account for 1,369MW of the growth.

Completion of a number of onshore gas schemes and elements of the Shah gas project will contribute to much of the demand growth from the state oil company.

Peak demand is expected to increase by 10,421MW between 2012 and 2020.