Dubai Installed 17.7 MW Rooftop PV

• Under its Shams Dubai program, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) has so far installed 17.7 MW of rooftop solar capacity
• It translates into 450 residential and commercial buildings that have been fitted with rooftop panels and connected with the DEWA grid
• DEWA is now installing solar carports for its own headquarters and at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment Building

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has installed 17.7 MW of cumulative PV capacity through its Shams Dubai program. It has connected 450 residential and commercial buildings so far. This is a strong increase from 6 MW installed by October 2016 (see Shams Dubai Update).

DEWA's rooftop solar initiative Shams Dubai aims to have all buildings in the city fitted with solar panels on their rooftops by 2030. DEWA targets for 7% of Dubai's total power output to come from renewables by 2020 and 15% by 2030.

Under the same program, DEWA is installing solar carports at its headquarters and at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment Building. The DEWA parking lot has a capacity of 1,780 kW and that of the ministry's will have capacity of 220 kW. Together this 2,000 kW capacity over 902 parking spaces will generate a total of 2,750 MW.

"Through the project, we intend to provide comfort and enhance the happiness of our stakeholders, to fulfil our mission, in line with our core values, as well as promote the initiative among all stakeholders, both individuals and institutions, in the public and private sectors," said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. "This will happen by providing practical examples of green and sustainable buildings, to spread a culture of sustainability, reduce energy consumption, and dependence on traditional energy sources, and help Dubai's government organisations achieve the goal set by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) to reduce 20% of the energy consumption in all government buildings, by 2020."