Dubai utility connects 453 solar installations to the grid

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced the connection of 453 solar installations on the roofs of buildings in the emirate as part of its Shams initiative.

The photovoltaic panels on the roofs of residential, commercial and industrial buildings have a total capacity of 18.7MW.

Any excess power not used by the premises is exported to Dubai’s electricity grid.

DEWA plans to have solar panels on every building in the emirate by 2030.

Read: Dubai’s DEWA urges customers to install solar panels at home

Shams Dubai comes under Dubai’s clean energy strategy to generate 7 per cent of power output from clean energy by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050.

“Apart from providing those direct benefits to electricity customers, and increasing the value of buildings where solar photovoltaic systems are installed, Shams Dubai establishes a sustainable model for providing clean energy and supporting Dubai’s economy without harming the environment and natural resources,” said DEWA managing director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.

Among the first buildings to have their panels connected to the grid were Dubai World Central airport with a peak load of 30KW, Emirates Engine Maintenance Centre in Warsan with a peak load of 1MW an a number of Dubai Municipality buildings