DEWA announces 222 buildings with photovoltaic installations as part of Shams Dubai

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced the achievements made by the Shams Dubai initiative as of October 2016. DEWA launched the Shams Dubai in adherence with the Smart Dubai initiative, which was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the happiest and smartest city in the world.

Shams Dubai encourages building owners to install photovoltaic (PV) panels on their rooftops to generate electricity from solar power. The electricity is used onsite and the surplus is exported to DEWA’s grid. An offset between exported and imported electricity units is conducted and the customer account is settled based on this offset.

“DEWA is pleased with interest in installing PV panels as part of the Shams Dubai initiative. This reflects the commitment of all government and private organisations in Dubai, towards achieving the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city in the world, and to empower, deliver, and promote an efficient, seamless, safe, and impactful city experience for citizens, residents and visitors. The number of projects completed and those in the pipeline, show our commitment towards achieving the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to make Dubai a global centre of clean energy and green economy. Our strategy 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 would like to commend those who have installed PV panels to produce electricity locally. It is commendable that you are protecting the environment and reducing the carbon footprint by making use of solar energy. I urge house and villa owners, and all members of society to take advantage of Shams Dubai, 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. It also contributes to reducing carbon emissions, in adherence with the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021 to reduce carbon emissions by 16% by 2021, ensuring a sustainable future for us, and for generations to come,” added Al Tayer.

Al Tayer expressed his happiness with the results achieved by Shams Dubai, “As of October 2016, 222 buildings were connected, this includes residential and commercial buildings in Dubai with a capacity of over 6 megawatt (MW). DEWA has enrolled 44 contracting and consultancy companies. A total of 247 engineers have been certified as enrolled electrical and solar photovoltaic consultants and contractors. 70 manufacturers of solar power equipment registered 578 products as eligible for Shams Dubai. DEWA is cooperating with 18 government organisations to install PV panels on 35 government buildings,” continued Al Tayer.

DEWA recently announced the launch of the largest projects of the Shams Dubai initiative launched by DEWA. Construction of the largest distributed solar rooftop project in the Middle East is underway after DP World commissioned the installation of 88,000 rooftop solar panels on its Dubai facilities in Jebel Ali Free Zone and Mina Rashid. Phase one will be completed in 2017.