Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is organising the first Dubai Solar Show, in conjunction with the upcoming 18th Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (Wetex 2016) in Dubai, UAE.

Wetex is running from October 4 to 6 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Dubai Solar Show will cover approximately 13,000 sq m and will attract exhibitors from around the world.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dewa made the announcement at a press conference by at Grand Hyatt hotel in Dubai.

In his speech, Al Tayer pointed out that analysts expect that by 2030, the solar market will increase ten-fold, and solar will become the dominant electricity source around the world. Solar energy is forecasted to generate $5 trillion in revenue over the next 15 years, displacing large amounts of fossil fuels.

“The significant development of solar photovoltaic technologies, combined with 75 per cent drop in cost over the past 10 years, have made it a popular option in various parts of the world to increasingly rely on solar energy,” said Al Tayer.

“The cumulative capacity of solar energy now stands at about 185GW. Solar power additions in 2015 alone are estimated at about 50GW, up from 37 in 2014. This is clearly reflected in the Middle East. According to the Middle East Solar Industry Association, only 70MW of solar PV projects were awarded between 2006 and 2013 across the region, while projects of 294MW were awarded in 2014 alone. This is a four-fold increase in demand for solar energy in one year compared to the seven previous years combined.”

“Earlier this year, Dewa signed an Independent Power Producer agreement to generate 200MW at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, to be operational by April 2017. Last month, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the second project of the Solar Park, the largest single-site project of its kind in the world, based on the IPP model.

“It will generate 1,000MW by 2020, and 5,000MW by 2030, with total investments of Dh50 billion ($13.6 billion). His Highness also launched the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to make Dubai a global centre of clean energy and green economy, and provide 7 per cent of Dubai’s energy from clean energy sources by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050. Dubai also aims to install solar panels on the roofs of all buildings in Dubai by 2030. Dewa has already launched Shams Dubai initiative to encourage building owners to install photovoltaic panels to generate electricity and connect it to Dewa’s grid,” added Al Tayer.

“The UAE, under the directives of our wise leadership, has taken an early start to bid farewell to the last drop of oil. At Dewa, we encourage research and development in solar energy. Dewa Innovation Centre will oversee research and development projects with a total investment of Dh 500 million,” said Al Tayer.

“We will also host the Solar Decathlon Middle East, which was created through an agreement between the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and the United States Department of Energy. Participants will be university students from all over the world. Dubai will host the first two rounds of the Solar Decathlon, which is held for the first time in the Middle East and Africa. Dubai will host the first decathlon in 2018 and again in 2020 to coincide with World Expo in Dubai, whose theme 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ fits well with this distinguished international competition,” said Al Tayer.

“Dubai Solar Show will be a key platform for the public and private sectors to make deals, build partnerships, review the latest solar-energy technologies, learn about current and future projects in the region and market needs, and explore opportunities to take part in solar-energy projects and programmes,” he noted.

“Organising the show in conjunction with Wetex and the World Green Economy Summit is a chance to reach thousands of exhibitors, participants, officials, and decision makers in the UAE, the Arabian Gulf, and the Middle East as a whole. Participants and visitors can avail of the busy agendas of the two events which feature conferences, workshops, and specialised activities. They can also meet experts and specialists from around the world to discuss developing solar energy and expanding its adoption in the region to achieve the sustainable development and ensure a sustainable future for us and for generations to come,” said Al Tayer. – TradeArabia News Service