The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with First Solar,  a comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions provider, to develop a  training programme on solar energy technology.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa, and Georges Antoun, COO of First Solar, signed the MoU, which aims to send engineers from Dewa to enrol in a training course organised by First Solar in collaboration with Arizona State University to achieve the Solar Energy Engineering and Commercialisation Certificatation (SEEC), said a statement.

Dewa will nominate a number of its engineers for a two-day preparatory programme, which will cover the latest technologies in the field of renewable energy, after which they will be sent for a 15-day training course in Arizona to develop their skills on the best solar energy technologies as well as the SEEC, it said.

"We aim to diversify our sources of power, so we relentlessly keep pace with state-of-the-art training programmes that are useful for Dewa. In this regard, Dewa is preparing and performing a lot of activities and training courses in all its departments, as well as in all educational and training organisations, either in the UAE or abroad,” said Al Tayer.

On completion of the course, the best three trainees will be selected to participate in the exchange programme to work in First Solar’s offices in the US for six months.

At the end of this programme, the three trainees will develop a solar plant for Dewa, taking into account all the environmental requirements in Dubai and obtain an accreditation certificate from First Solar.

Setting up this photovoltaic solar plant is a step closer to achieving Dubai’s strategy, set by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy to diversify its energy mix. This strategy aims to provide for Dubai’s increasing energy needs and secure an uninterrupted energy supply, said a statement.

The Supreme Council, which overseas the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, managed and operated by Dewa,  has approved the first phase of the project, that will be completed in October. It uses photovoltaic technology and has a capacity of 13MW, to be connected to Dewa's network, it said.

At the same time as the MoU was being signed, the first shipment of photovoltaic solar panels were delivered to the Solar Park, it added.

Upon competition of all its phases, the total capacity of the project will reach 1,000MW. - TradeArabia News Service