The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has recently opened a new R&D Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
The facility was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
The centre is aimed at building and localising knowledge and expertise and employs around 70 percent Emiratis.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid visited the sections and labs of the R&D Centre, which covers 4,400 square metres.
The DEWA R&D Centre is the only facility in the UAE that focuses on renewable energy, smart grid technologies and energy efficiency.
The centre has various internal and outdoor labs to study the performance and reliability of PV panels. Key internal labs include the Electrical Characterisation Lab, the Mechanical Characterisation Lab, the Materials Characterisation Lab, the Solar Simulator Lab, and the Accelerated Aging Lab. The outdoor labs include testing different solar panel technologies and performance, as well as a safe zone for testing drones.
The Dubai ruler also met a number of the R&D Centre’s researchers and experts. The centre was granted one patent, with five more under process.
“The wise leadership attaches great importance to R&D. At DEWA, we work in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who once observed, ‘We are seeking to make the UAE an efficient and influential part of the international academic and research community.’ We are committed to anticipating and shaping the future of energy and water,” Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA.
The R&D Centre received a Platinum Rating for green buildings from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design by the US Green Building Council.
