Majid Al Futtaim and Enova complete first phase of MoE’s solar PV plant
11,996sqm plant has 7,291 photovoltaic panels fitted to 1,068 carports
Majid Al Futtaim, the UAE-based shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure developer with operations across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has unveiled the first phase of the Mall of the Emirates’ solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, which is set to generate 3GWh of clean energy, saving up to $381,139 annually.
Enova, the energy and facilities management specialist, has overseen the installation of 7,291 photovoltaic panels, which were fitted to 1,068 carports. Spanning over 11,996sqm, the plant is the equivalent size of two football fields, while the retrofit of the premises’ existing car park structure is a regional first, the developer added in a statement.
“Mall of the Emirates’ renewable energy plant brings Majid Al Futtaim one step closer to our commitment to become ‘Net Positive’ in carbon and water by 2040. This new solar PV plant is set to reduce 2,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions every year, equivalent to taking 480 cars off the road,” said Ibrahim Al’Zubi, chief sustainability officer at Majid Al Futtaim-Holding.
Anne Le Guennec, chief executive officer for Enova, added that the project would deliver significant savings to Majid Al Futtaim.
“We encourage our clients to take a step further in their energy performance strategies by supporting them to not only implement energy conservation measures for increased energy efficiency, but also generate their own energy through on-site solar photovoltaic plants,” she explained.
“We are a strong partner throughout the solar project lifecycle, from the conception with transparent feasibility studies, to the operation & maintenance with real-time monitoring after the solution installation. This integrated approach allows us to guarantee the performance and savings promised, so that our clients can achieve their ambitious sustainability targets while growing their business at the same time.”
The project is part of an initiative between Enova and Majid Al Futtaim’s Shopping Malls business unit to install solar PV to power three of its shopping malls by 2018.The objective is to source a minimum of 7.5% of energy use on site via renewable energy at all new developments and a minimum of 5% in existing buildings.
The work was completed in 10 weeks and the shopping centre remained fully operational throughout, resulting in minimal disruption to customers at one of the UAE’s busiest malls, MAF added in a statement.
