New Ducab solar plant inaugurated as a step forward to clean energy sustainability

Dubai: The UAE has been taking further steps forward in attaining sustainable independency in recent times. In similar news, Ducab Group, one of the UAE’s largest manufacturing businesses has opened a solar plant today. The plant was inaugurated by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).  

The opening of the plant is considered as a significant step towards increasing Ducab’s sustainability. Dr. Ahmad bin Hassan Al Shaikh, Chairman of Ducab, Board members, and senior officials from DEWA and Ducab were also present at the event.

Saeed Al Tayer said, “I am pleased to commission Ducab’s photovoltaic solar plant. It also underlines Ducab’s role as a leading organization that supports the vision of our wise leadership to reduce carbon emissions, and the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world and provide 75 percent of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy sources by 2050. DEWA also encourages individuals and organizations to install solar photovoltaic solar systems in buildings as part of the Shams Dubai initiative, which supports the Smart Dubai initiative to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world.”

The solar plant is a 2MWp (megawatt peak) renewable generation project located at Ducab’s head office site in Jebel Ali, Dubai. It was developed in partnership with Etihad Energy Service Company, Etihad, ESCO.

Comprising of both rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV, the combined plant can produce 3.5GWH (gigawatt hours) annually, which is enough to meet the energy needs of 500 homes, or sufficient enough to run the Ducab PVC plant on site. The project is in alignment with the UAE’s ambitions to harness the potential of solar power.

Energy generated by Ducab’s solar plant will lead to savings of approximately 660 tonnes per year of carbon dioxide – equivalent to the quantity of carbon dioxide processed by 40,000 trees over 10 years.

The project utilizes the latest smart technology applications including DEWA Smart Metering, remote monitoring of power output using a web or mobile app, and automated self-cleaning solar panels using solar-powered cleaning robots.

Dr. Ahmad Al Shaikh said, “Ducab Solar Plant represents our continued efforts towards making our business more sustainable, in line with the vision of the UAE’s leadership and our commitment towards the environment. We would like to thank Saeed Al Tayer, DEWA, and Etihad ESCO for their partnership in making this project a reality, which will lead to considerable emissions savings, as well as valuable financial savings.”