Abu Dhabi Department of Energy has launched Phase II of its solar self-supply policy
It extends the self-consumption eligibility to villa owners and residential buildings
Authorities will support adoption through simplified regulations, standardized technical requirements, and streamlined grid connections
Within 2 months of launching its Solar (Photovoltaic) Energy Self-Supply Policy, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy (Abu Dhabi DoE) has launched Phase II, expanding the policy’s ambit to cover the residential sector as well.
Launched in February 2026 to boost the uptake of distributed solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS), Phase I of the policy focused on the agricultural segment as well as owners of rest houses and ranches (see Abu Dhabi Launches Self-Supply Solar Policy To Boost Distributed PV).
Now, under Phase II, its scope also extends to villa owners and residential buildings. While this will enable self-consumption of solar for end consumers, it will contribute to grid efficiency through flexible solutions for energy production and consumption.
Customers will be able to generate and meet a substantial portion of their daytime energy requirement through solar power while storing excess energy in batteries.
The government will facilitate its adoption with a simplified regulatory framework to streamline installation and grid connection. It also standardizes technical requirements to ensure safety and efficiency, according to local media reports.
“The second phase of the Solar Energy Self-Supply Policy represents a significant step in advancing the policy’s implementation, integrating the residential sector to enhance energy consumption efficiency and support the integration of the power system,” said Abu Dhabi DoE Director General, Regulatory Affairs, Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Obaidli.
Phase II builds on the success of Phase I, but the department has not shared any details.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi continues to expand its utility-scale solar capacity. Recently, Masdar signed an EPC contract with a Chinese consortium to build a 2.1 GW Solar PV and 7.75 GWh energy storage project in Abu Dhabi (see Middle East & Africa Solar PV News Snippets).
