Dubai introduces residential rooftop solar panel initiative
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has started a new smart
initiative Shams Dubai to regulate the generation of solar energy in
buildings and their connection to its grid.
Shams Dubai is one of the three projects launched by Dewa in 2014 to support
the Smart Dubai initiative of UAE Prime Minister HH Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum.
As part of Shams Dubai initiative, tenants and building owners will be
encouraged to install photovoltaic solar panels on their rooftops to
generate electricity.
The clean electricity generated will be used onsite and the surplus will be
exported to Dewa's grid.
The initiative is expected to encourage the use of renewable energy,
increase its share in electricity production and diversify the energy mix.
Dewa managing director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said: "This smart
initiative also supports the Dubai Plan 2021 and the Dubai Integrated Energy
Strategy 2030, to develop sustainable energy projects in Dubai, by
increasing the targets for renewable energy in the Emirate's energy mix to
7% by 2020 and 15% by 2030.
"Last week, we announced the first project under the first smart initiative,
in collaboration with Dubai Airports, to supply Dubai World Central - Al
Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali with solar energy. The first step
in
implementing the initiative was installing photovoltaic panels to produce
30kW of electricity there."
