Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) will hold the first Dubai Solar Show in the Middle East in October 2016, as it aims to provide 7 per cent of the emirate’s energy from clean energy sources by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050.
The show will be held in conjunction with the 18th Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (Wetex 2016) from October 4 to 6 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Covering about 13,000 square metres, the show will be a key platform for the public and private sectors to make deals, build partnerships, review the latest solar-energy technologies, learn about current and future projects in the region and market needs, and explore opportunities to take part in solar-energy projects and programmes.
Analysts expect that by 2030, the solar market will increase ten-fold, and solar power will become the dominant electricity source around the world.
“Solar energy is forecast to generate $5 trillion in revenue over the next 15 years, displacing large amounts of fossil fuels,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chief Executive Officer, Dewa.
“The significant development of solar photovoltaic technologies, combined with 75 per cent drop in cost over the past 10 years, have made it a popular option in various parts of the world to increasingly rely on solar energy.”
The cumulative capacity of solar energy now stands at about 185GW. Solar power additions in 2015 alone are estimated at about 50GW, up from 37GW in 2014.
“This is clearly reflected in the Middle East. According to the Middle East Solar Industry Association, only 70MW of solar PV projects were awarded between 2006 and 2013 across the region, while projects of 294MW were awarded in 2014 alone. This is a four-fold increase in demand for solar energy in one year compared to the seven previous years combined,” said Al Tayer.
Earlier this year, Dewa signed an Independent Power Producer agreement to generate 200 MW at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, to be operational by April 2017.
Last month, the second project of the Solar Park, the largest single-site project of its kind in the world based on the IPP model, was inaugurated. It will generate 1,000MW by 2020, and 5,000MW by 2030, with total investments of Dh50 billion.
Clean Energy Strategy 2050
Dubai has launched the ‘Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050’ to make the emirate a global centre of clean energy and green economy.
“The UAE, under the directives of our wise leadership, has taken an early start to bid farewell to the last drop of oil. We encourage research and development in solar energy,” Al Tayer said.
Dewa Innovation Centre will oversee research and development projects with a total investment of Dh500 million. It will also host the Solar Decathlon Middle East which was created through an agreement between the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Dewa, and the United States Department of Energy.
Participants will be university students from all over the world. Dubai will host the first two rounds of the Solar Decathlon which is held for the first time in the Middle East and Africa. Dubai will host the first decathlon in 2018 and again in 2020 to coincide with World Expo in Dubai, whose theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” fits well with this distinguished internati