DUBAI, 23rd January, 2017 (WAM) -- A new 315 Kilowatt (kW) solar power plant of Swiss ABB company has been inaugurated in Al Quoz industrial area, Dubai.

Inaugurated by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, the plant will be one of the largest of its kind in the region.

The opening ceremony was attended by Frank Duggan, President of Asia, Middle East and Africa, AMEA, and Member of the Group Executive Committee, Gianandrea Bruzzone, Electrification Division Manager for the Middle East and Africa at ABB, Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President Strategy and Business Development at DEWA, Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President Business Support and HR at DEWA, and other staff from both sides.

The energy produced at the plant will supply ABB offices with electricity and transfer surplus energy into DEWAs network. This supports the Shams Dubai initiative, which was launched by DEWA and allows customers to install photovoltaic panels on their rooftops to generate electricity from solar power, and connect the systems to DEWAs grid, creating, producing and using energy.

"I am pleased to be here today to inaugurate the ABB 315 Kilowatt (kW) solar project, as part of Shams Dubai initiative, and I congratulate ABB on this important achievement which reflects our joint efforts to achieve the directives of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to diversify energy resources. The UAE now leads global efforts in clean and renewable energy.

"DEWA is carrying out the objectives of UAE Energy Strategy for 2050 launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to increase the share of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50 percent by 2050. The energy mix will include 44 percent from clean energy, 38 percent from gas, 12 percent from clean coal and 6 percent from nuclear power by 2050. We contribute to the objectives of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 7 percent of Dubais total power output from clean energy by 2020, 25 percent by 2030, and 75 percent by 2050," said Al Tayer.

"Shams Dubai supports the Smart Dubai initiative, and aims to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city. And as of mid-January 2017, DEWA has connected a total of 302 photovoltaic systems on building rooftops. To date, 52 consultancy and contracting companies have been registered, in addition to 311 engineers that have been certified as enrolled electrical and solar photovoltaic consultants and contractors. DEWAs training course includes academic and practical training aspects. DEWA has officially registered 70 manufacturers of solar photovoltaic equipment, and we launched the largest solar installation project in the region, on the DP World buildings rooftops of Jebel Ali Free Zone, JAFZA, and Port Rashid with a capacity of 22MW. The first phase of the project will be completed in 2017," added Al Tayer.

"We look forward to working together with DEWA to help develop the solar industry in the Emirate and for our installation to be a showcase in the region, proving the benefits of renewable technologies and their seamless integration into the existing electrical grid," said Duggan.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.