Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has signed a deal with energy firm ABB to develop a pilot solar power project, which has a grid connected rooftop 277kW photovoltaic (PV) system
The project will connect to DEWA?s grid through a low-voltage distribution board at ABB. This would also support the Smart Dubai initiative and is part of the utility giant?s efforts to connect electricity produced from solar power to its grid, Gulf Business reported.
The emirate had announced in 2013 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.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO of DEWA, said, ?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.
?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 had opened a 13MW power plant, which is a part of the US$3.27bn 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 2013, consultant Access Advisory revealed that the emirate could spend around US$100mn 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 Advisory added.
