DEWA’s Shams Dubai Net Metering Program
Overview
As part of the Emirates, vision to produce 75% energy from clean sources by 2050, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai wanted solar panels to be installed on every roof in Dubai by 2030. This would allow them to produce solar energy in Dubai for the residents.
Shams Dubai Program
Shams Dubai Solar Program was started in 2015, by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) to facilitate this goal. Through the program, solar panels are installed on roofs, parking shades or on the ground, depending on available space and orientation. The best locations for solar panels are clear, unobstructed roofs, parking or other areas with no shading. North-facing surfaces with mounting structures can be used to tilt panels so that they face south.
Any surplus electricity that is generated and which cannot be used immediately will be credited by DEWA at the retail rate, further reducing the electricity bill in the next month.
How does the Shams Dubai Solar Program work?
DEWA’s Shams Dubai is a program based on the principle of net metering. Customers of this program install solar panels to produce their own power, hence reducing their electricity every month. Any surplus electricity not used at that time is sold back to the grid at the same price, and at the end of the month, only the net amount is billed to the customer.
If a customer produces more energy than S/he has consumed, DEWA allows you to roll over these kWh’s to the next month.
The big advantage of net metering is that customers stay connected to DEWA’s grid. This helps combine the 24/7 reliability of a grid connection with the lower costs of solar energy.
Shams Dubai vs DEWA
Solar power is cheaper than DEWA’s red slab tariff rate of AED 0,445 / kWh for most commercial and industrial customers due to the excellent solar radiation available in Dubai.
E.g. factories and warehouses with large rooftops in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Investments Park, Dubai Logistics City, and Dubai Industrial City.
A lot of customers with significant air conditioning loads covered around 80% of the winter electricity consumption to maximize savings per kWh.
Over the whole year, this allows a typical customer to save around 50% of their consumption with cheaper solar energy.
For customers with large and stable loads like factories and cold-storage warehouses, it’s easy to cancel over 90% of DEWA electricity consumption with solar energy, saving hundreds of dirhams per year.
By the end of 2019, a total of 5,620 solar installations were connected to DEWA’s grid.
What are the advantages of having Shams Dubai Program?
- Reduces electricity bills (B2B)
- Solar Credit Generation
- Reduces carbon footprint
- Battery storage is not required
- Benefits homeowners and businesses
- Increases property value
Solar energy is a powerful form of clean energy which is secure and limitless. It produces no emissions, hence helping the environment. When you use renewable energy, you are reducing your intake of traditional sources of energy, such as gas, oil, and coal. This ensures a sustainable future for the new generations.
Support and take part in Dubai’s vision for a smart and sustainable city. As a customer of the DEWA solar Shams Dubai Program, you will produce and own clean electricity straight from your premises.
How much is DEWA per month?
Your DEWA is one of Dubai’s most important utility bills for residents. E.g. If you live in a 900 sq. ft. apartment, the DEWA bill is approximately AED 600 per month.
What is Shams Dubai Solar Program?
Shams is the largest renewable energy project that’s still operating in the Middle East. It covers 2.5 sq. kilometers and has a capacity of 100 megawatts. The solar field has 768 parabolic trough collectors to generate clean, renewable electricity.
Who is responsible for the maintenance of the solar system once it is installed?
The customer is responsible for the upkeep of the solar system. S/he has to have an operation and maintenance contract with a service provider. The Operation and Maintenance Contract Service providers are required to be enrolled as Electrical and DRRG Solar PV Consultants and Contractors.