Solar PV portfolio

Every plant on a different roof.

DEWA, Etihad Energy Services and private owners each wanted solar plants on their roofs and car parks: plants that would pass DEWA’s inspection for connection under Shams Dubai, and keep producing in Dubai’s heat and dust for years after.

What made it hard.

1. 01

   Every roof is different

   From the roof of DEWA Hatta Mosque to DEWA’s Warsan Central Store, each plant had its own structure, loads, shading, access and cable routes.

2. 02

   DEWA’s standards for connection

   Each plant had to meet DEWA’s standards under Shams Dubai: an approved design, then inspection and testing, before it could export to the grid.

3. 03

   Heat and dust

   Dust and heat cut the output of panels in Dubai. The owners needed their plants kept clean, monitored and productive long after handover.

4. 04

   An off-grid plant brought onto the grid

   At Dubai Airports, an existing off-grid PV system had to be converted to on-grid without losing the plant.

What we did about each one.

1. Challenge 01Every roof is different
   Our response

   Designed roof by roof

   We surveyed each roof, checked its structure and set out the arrays, strings and cable routes for that building, so every plant fits the building it sits on.

2. Challenge 02DEWA’s standards for connection
   Our response

   Approved before installation

   We prepared each submission to DEWA’s standards and took every plant through inspection, testing and connection.

3. Challenge 03Heat and dust
   Our response

   Maintained after handover

   Four DEWA plants are on three-year O&M contracts with us: cleaning, monitoring, preventive maintenance and repairs.

4. Challenge 04An off-grid plant brought onto the grid
   Our response

   Retrofitted, then maintained

   We converted the Dubai Airports system to on-grid and maintained it for two years after.

From the first drawing to handover.

1. 01SurveyStructure, shading and access checked on each roof and car park.
2. 02DesignArrays, strings, inverters and cable routes designed for each building.
3. 03ApprovalEach design submitted to DEWA under Shams Dubai.
4. 04InstallationMounting, modules, inverters and cabling installed and tested.
5. 05Connection and O&MInspection and connection to DEWA’s network, then cleaning, monitoring and maintenance.

6,349 kWp in operation, with three-year O&M contracts on four DEWA plants.