Meed | Dubai Airports to install 39MW of solar rooftop

Dubai Airports to install 39MW of solar rooftop

4 October 2024

Dubai Airports has signed an agreement with Etihad Clean Energy Development Company, a subsidiary of state utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa), for the installation of solar rooftop panels with a total capacity of 39MW.

To be executed in phases, the solar farm is expected to be fully operational by 2026.

The project involves the installation of 62,904 solar panels across Dubai International airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al-Maktoum International airport (DWC).

The panels are expected to generate 60,346 megawatt-hours (MWh) of power annually.

Dubai Airports said the project marks a “significant stride towards decarbonising airport operations”.

The solar panels, which will span passenger terminals and concourses at both airports, are expected to offset 23,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – equivalent to taking 5,000 cars off the road or powering 3,000 homes for a year.

According to Dubai Airports, the energy generated will meet 6.5% of DXB’s power needs and 20% of DWC’s.

Dubai Airports' CEO Paul Griffiths and Etihad Esco's CEO Waleed Alnuaimi signed the agreement on 3 October during the World Green Economy Summit in Dubai.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, chairman of Dubai Airports and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group; and Saeed Mohammed Al-Tayer, vice chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and managing director and CEO of Dewa, witnessed the ceremonial signing of the agreement.

This solar initiative complements ongoing environmental sustainability efforts by Dubai Airports, which include retrofitting hundreds of thousands of LED lights, optimising cooling systems, switching to biodiesel-powered ground vehicles and cutting food waste to landfill.

Photo: Dubai Airports

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12655705/main1800.jpeg

Jennifer Aguinaldo