ALEC Energy has announced the signing of a contract with Al Nabooda Automobiles for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a private solar power plant.
The project is considered to be the largest private-sector solar plant in the region, the wholly owned ALEC subsidiary said in a statement. Once completed, the 6.8MW combined roof and carpark plant will cover 70,000sqm of roof space and will be connected to the DEWA MV grid.
It is expected that the plant will provide Al Nabooda Automobiles, Body and Paint-shop with 70% of their total energy needs annually, for the next 25 years. The launch of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 has seen Dubai target the production of 25% of their total energy needs from solar plants by 2030. By 2050, the emirate aims to meet 75% of its needs through solar energy.
“We are proud to be able to play a role in fulfilling the vision set out by the Dubai Supreme Energy Council by bringing this power plant in our Body and Paint-shop which will be the largest private Solar Park in the region. We see this investment as a part of our Corporate Social Responsibility towards promoting sustainability,” said K Rajaram, CEO of Al Nabooda Automobiles.
The solar power plant will include 25,000 solar panels on the carpark and roofs of the facility. These will produce 10 million units of electrical energy in a year. The resulting offset will be 5.3 million kg of CO2 annually, which is equivalent to offsetting the annual CO2 emissions of 1,600 passenger vehicles.
ALEC Energy will be tasked with carrying out all of the system design, local approvals and construction. The project is expected to be constructed and commissioned over a six-month period.
Yellow Door Energy is in discussions with ALEC Energy to finance the project, the statement added.
“We are very excited to collaborate with Al Nabooda Automobiles LLC on this solar project. Solar energy is a smart choice and has many financial and environmental benefits which in the long run assist the UAE in meeting their 2030 renewable energy targets,” added James Stewart, general manager of ALEC Energy.
ALEC Energy design and engineering carparks have been designed to suit electric car charging stations, using the Porsche e-mobility concept, one of the first of its kind in the UAE. The system will provide electric energy to the facility, while also protecting vehicles from extreme weather, as well as providing charging stations for the hybrid and electric versions of AUDI Porsche and Volkswagen cars.
The design of the power plant has been done with local weather conditions in mind, with the emphasis on optimising energy production.
The Shams Dubai program is regulated by DEWA who have prepared a specific solar code for Dubai which allows consumers to use solar on rooftops without compromising the quality and safety related with use of solar.