Etihad Energy Service Company (Etihad Esco) has signed a major agreement with Ducab, one of the UAE’s largest manufacturing businesses, as part of its efforts to support the country's solar energy industry’s growth.

As per the deal signed on the sidelines of the 21st Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (Wetex), Ducab will be supplying its SolarBICC cables, which have been specially designed for the booming solar energy market, for Etihad Esco's in-house solar power plant, thus contributing to the company’s sustainability vision by diversifying its own energy sources.

A unit of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), Etihad Esco said upon completion by mid-2020, its in-house plant will generate an annual savings of 3.25 million KWh in energy, which is equivalent to Dh1.45 million ($393,919).

The signing ceremony took place on the opening day, which saw Andrew Shaw, the managing director of Ducab, and Ali Al Jassim, the chief executive of Etihad Esco, reaffirm their organisations’ commitments to making solar power more accessible to more people across the UAE.

Etihad Esco’s solar power project is expected to go live next February. In close co-ordination with Ducab, Etihad Esco has appointed Belectric Shams consortium as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project.

Al Jassim said: "Our latest partnership with Ducab aligns with our commitment to creating and sustaining a vibrant market for energy performance contracts. This contributes to the strategic goal of the UAE in pursuing a green economy for sustainable development, by making Dubai a model of a green economy transition."

"Choosing a UAE manufacturer – Ducab – to supply a crucial element of the project further supports our commitment to a sustainable future," he added.

Ducab said it has worked closely with solar power project developers in the UAE in support of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the nation’s ambitions for a thriving renewable energy sector.

Owned equally by Abu Dhabi’s General Holding Corporation (Senaat) and Investment Corporation Dubai (ICD), Ducab has consistently remained at forefront of delivering advanced manufacturing products to meet the unique requirements of numerous industrial sectors.

Its SolarBICC cables portfolio is dedicated to the needs of the sector and helps to realise more efficient and powerful energy infrastructure, stated its top official.  

"Solar power is one of the fastest-growing sources of new energy worldwide," remarked Ducab chairman Dr Ahmad bin Hassan Al Shaikh.

"It is a public priority in the UAE and plays a strong role in Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050. With this in mind, we developed our specialised SolarBICC cable range specifically to meet the unique needs of this expanding market, noted Dr Al Shaikh.

"We are pleased to provide our cables to Etihad Esco for the solar power project, playing our part in the continued diversification of the UAE’s energy sector," he added.-TradeArabia News Service