DEWA Inks Deal With ABB To Develop Solar Power Project

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced that it has signed a deal with energy firm ABB to develop a pilot solar power project which has a grid connected rooftop 277 kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic (PV) system.

The project will be developed on the premises of ABB and will connect to DEWA’s grid through a low-voltage distribution board at ABB, DEWA said in a statement.

The project also supports the Smart Dubai initiative and is part of the utility giant’s efforts to connect electricity produced from solar power to its grid.

DEWA is also planning to use the pilot project as a learning tool for the deployment of solar PV rooftop installations in Dubai, the statement added.

The emirate announced last year that it is looking to form regulations that govern energy generation through rooftop solar panels, which will allow private homeowners to use solar power to generate electricity.

“DEWA is committed to enhancing partnerships and collaborating with the public and private sectors and local and international organisations to further improve the services it provides to the public, as well as its operational processes according to the highest levels of availability, reliability and efficiency,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“It also demonstrates how government and private organisations can work together to enhance Dubai’s sustainable development.”

Dubai is planning to diversify its energy generation with plans to produce up to five per cent of its electricity from renewables by 2030.

In line with its energy diversification strategy, Dubai opened a 13 megawatts (MW) power plant, which is a part of the massive Dhs12 billion Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar park, in October last year. Upon completion, the park is expected to produce 1,000MW of clean energy using PV and solar thermal technology.

Late last year, consultant Access Advisory revealed that the emirate could spend around $100 million to add 50MW of solar-power capacity by the time it hosts the World Expo 2020.

The new capacity will help Dubai meet its target of generating half the additional power needed to run the Expo from renewable resources, Stephane Bontemps, managing director of Access said.