The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has inaugurated a 315kW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plant developed by Swiss power and automation company ABB.

Being one of the largest of its kind in the region, the plant is located in the Al Quoz industrial area of Dubai.

ABB's Asia, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) president Frank Duggan said: “ABB is excited to inaugurate a solar rooftop at our own facility in Al Quoz, Dubai.

“We look forward to working together with DEWA to help develop the solar industry in the Emirate and for our installation to be a showcase in the region, proving the benefits of renewable technologies and their seamless integration into the existing electrical grid.

“We also share DEWA’s vision that Dubai will be a world-class smart city and we firmly believe for this to happen, it also needs to be energy-efficient.”

"We also share DEWA’s vision that Dubai will be a world-class smart city and we firmly believe for this to happen, it also needs to be energy-efficient."

Power generated by the rooftop facility will be able to supply ABB's offices, while surplus power will be transferred into DEWA’s electricity network.

DEWA's managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said: “DEWA is carrying out the objectives of UAE Energy Strategy for 2050 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to increase the share of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50% by 2050.”

The project is part of the Shams Dubai initiative, which was introduced to encourage customers to deploy solar panels on their rooftops.


Image: The 315kW solar facility has been installed in the ABB offices at Al Quoz industrial area. Photo: courtesy of DEWA.