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Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched a competition to encourage students in Dubai to design, build, test, and race solar-powered remote-controlled cars. The completion is part of DEWA’s Innovation Week 2016 activities, which runs from 20-24 November. The final race will take place in April 2017.
“At DEWA, we are committed to involving young people in achieving the sustainable development goals, to support the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We do this by preparing and training them to be the next generation of leaders and experts in Research and Development, and developing solar and clean energy projects and initiatives. This supports the position of the UAE as a global hub for clean energy and green economy. The competition encourages students to develop innovative solutions for solar-powered small cars. This helps them learn more about the importance of solar energy as a clean alternative to traditional energy sources in an interactive way, promoting the position of DEWA as a supporter of forward-thinking, innovation, and sustainability,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
Al Tayer noted that the competition aims to promote Shams Dubai, DEWA’s initiative to encourage building owners to install photovoltaic panels to generate electricity and connect the systems to its grid. The electricity is used on-site and the surplus is exported to DEWA’s network. An offset between exported and imported electricity is conducted and the customer account is settled based on this offset.
“DEWA launched Shams Dubai to support the Smart Dubai initiative to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city in the world, and to empower, deliver, and promote an efficient, seamless, safe, and impactful city experience for citizens, residents, and visitors. Since it was launched, Shams Dubai has achieved a great deal of success. DEWA has received a large number of applications to install photovoltaic systems in buildings. This reflects the commitment of government and private organisations in Dubai to contribute to achieving the sustainable development and support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to make Dubai a global centre of clean energy and green economy. It aims to increase Dubai’s total power output from clean energy sources to 75% by 2050,” added Al Tayer.
As of October 2016, DEWA completed connecting 222 solar systems in commercial, residential, and government buildings with a total capacity of over 6 megawatts (MW). DEWA has enrolled 44 contracting and consultancy companies. A total of 247 engineers have been certified as enrolled electrical and solar photovoltaic consultants and contractors.
DEWA recently announced the launch of the largest project in the GCC and the Middle East to install photovoltaic panels on rooftops. A total of 88,000 solar panels will be installed on the rooftops of DP World buildings in Jebel Ali Free Zone and Rashid Port. The first phase of the project will be completed in 2017.
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