Solar energy working its way into residential applications in the UAE

Environmental awareness is on the rise. It isn’t happening overnight, but it is happening, thanks to green-conscious organisations and government bodies reminding everyone to save, recycle and conserve vital resources.

Greater understanding of environmental issues has put a new focus on the role solar energy can play in the UAE, with consumers keen to cash in on the power of sunshine. While the country has invested in utility-scale solar installations for a while – for example, the Shams 1 plant in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region or the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park on the edge of Dubai – smaller options for domestic applications haven’t always received the attention they deserve.

Now though, things are changing. Building regulations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi mandate energy savings, as well as encouraging and rewarding environmentally thoughtful design. More recently, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority changed the game when it introduced Shams Dubai, part of a new wave of “smart city” initiatives in the city.

Shams Dubai is a net-metering scheme for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. In simple terms, it means homeowners and businesses can connect their solar panels to Dewa’s electricity grid. This offers a massive advantage to anyone with a new or existing solar system, removing the need for battery storage and allowing power to be “credited” to the grid for later use. Dewa bills reflect the net usage – in other words, any power that a homeowner has to buy to supplement their generation is all they pay for.

Original article by Stuart Matthews

Continue reading at The National:

Solar energy working its way into residential applications in the UAE