Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) continues its efforts to raise awareness among customers about its Shams Dubai smart initiative to encourage building owners to install photovoltaic solar panels to generate electricity from solar power.

The electricity is used on-site and the surplus is exported to DEWA's grid. An offset between exported and imported electricity units is conducted and the customer account is settled based on this offset.

Shams Dubai supports the Smart Dubai initiative put forth by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world.

"DEWA not only provides electricity and water services to its customers with the highest levels of efficiency, reliability and excellence, but places considerable attention to environmental sustainability and diversification of the energy mix to include renewable and clean energy. DEWA's efforts in this field supports the long-term national Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to establish the UAE as a world leader in green economy and a centre for the export and re-export of green products and technologies. They also support the UAE Vision 2021, to make the UAE one of the leading countries in green economy, protect the environment and ensure a sustainable economic growth in the long term. DEWA's initiatives support the Dubai Plan 2021 for Dubai to be a smart, integrated, and connected city that sustainably manages its resources and has a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. DEWA's efforts also support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy, to provide 75 per cent of the Emirate's energy from clean sources by 2050," said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

DEWA has outlined easy steps to install photovoltaic systems and connect it to its grid. The installation process starts with the customer contacting one of the consultants or contractors accredited by DEWA to study the possibility of installing the solar power system and suggest the best solution. The consultant or contractor then obtains the necessary approvals from DEWA.

These include an NOC for installing solar energy system and connecting it to the power network, and approval for the solar system design that meets all the requirements. After completing installation, the consultant or contractor submits a notification to DEWA to conduct the technical inspection of the site and install the meter to complete the connection process.

To regulate electricity produced from PV panels to the power distribution system in Dubai, the Dubai Executive Council issued resolution number 46 for 2014 to put in place a comprehensive framework at a legislative level to connect electricity produced from solar power to the distribution system. So far, DEWA has received 27 applications to install PV systems in commercial and residential buildings, with a total capacity of 12MW. Many government organisations and schools in Dubai have expressed their intentions to install PV panels on their buildings to produce solar energy.
Source: WAM