A total of 30 rooftop solar power systems have been installed on Dubai’s buildings under DEWA’s Shams Dubai initiative.
Six of the projects have been connected to Dubai’s electricity network and the utility is working to connect the other projects.
One of the key projects completed and connected to DEWA’s grid as part of Shams Dubai initiative, is a 1.5 megawatt direct current (MWdc) photovoltaic generation project at Jebel Ali Power Station.
DEWA installed 5,240 photovoltaic panels on the 23,000 square-metre roof of the water reservoir at its M-Station to create one of the largest single-rooftop arrays in the Middle East and North Africa.
DEWA also connected a 1MW project at Emirates Engine Maintenance Centre in Warsan. The installed system includes 2,990 photovoltaic panels installed on the rooftop of the centre’s car park, which spans over 8,000 square metres. The system generates about 1,900 MWh of electricity annually.
DEWA has also connected a photovoltaic system at Premier Composite Technologies in Dubai Investment Park, with a capacity of 200 kilowatts (kW), which equals over 320MWh of electricity production every year.
Photovoltaic systems were also connected to the rooftop of Jumeirah World Trade Centre Residence with a capacity of 31.1kW, which equals 46MWh of electricity every year, using 102 photovoltaic panels over 247 square metres.
DEWA connected a photovoltaic system to Dubai Municipality’s building in Al Kifaf with a capacity of 12kW, which equals 17 MWh of electricity every year.
One of the first projects implemented as part of Shams Dubai, was the installation of 30KW capacity on the rooftop of the Employee Gate at Al Maktoum International Airport.
DEWA is collaborating with 18 government organisations in Dubai to connect 37 projects under the Shams Dubai initiative, with a total capacity of 279kW and together produce about 445MWh annually.
DEWA finished installing 20 solar energy systems in 5 government schools, 10 villas within the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation’s housing project, Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI)’s Building, Al Bayan and Emarat Alyoum’s building, Dubai Land Department, the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex, and the Community Development Authority (CDA). The total capacity of these projects is 146kW and they produce a total of about 235MWh a year.
“Shams Dubai supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to make Dubai a global centre of clean energy and green economy. It aims to increase Dubai’s total power output from clean energy sources to 75% by 2050,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
“I urge all members of society to be our partners in producing renewable energy, and achieving Dubai Government’s objectives to diversify the energy mix. This supports a smart, sustainable, and happy city and contributes to achieving the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to transform Dubai into the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050, ensuring a sustainable future for us, and for generations to come,” added Al Tayer.