In a significant move for renewable energy, Emerge and Dubai Maritime City have partnered to install a 980kWp rooftop solar plant. The project, featuring 1,700 solar modules, is set to offset 780 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
1,700 Solar Modules on Staff Accommodation Building
Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group, will oversee the project for the next 25 years. Their comprehensive role covers everything from design, procurement, and construction to long-term operations and maintenance of the solar modules for Dubai Maritime City.
According to the Emirates News Agency, this project is part of a broader energy transformation by Dubai Maritime City’s parent company, DP World. The strategy aims to encourage the widespread adoption of renewable energy and battery energy storage systems (BESS) across DP World’s global supply network.
Located on the rooftop of the staff accommodation building, the plant will consist of over 1,700 solar modules. Emerge is delivering the project as a comprehensive solution, covering financing, design, construction, and maintenance for the full 25-year term.
The Project Contributes to Decarbonization Objectives
Michel Abi Saab, General Manager of Emerge, expressed pride in the collaboration with Dubai Maritime City. He noted that the project builds on the company’s success in developing various projects across the UAE since its founding as an energy services firm.
“Since Emerge was founded as an energy services company providing full turnkey solutions to clients at no upfront cost, we have successfully developed several projects in the UAE. This agreement with Dubai Maritime City to install a rooftop solar plant builds on that success. We are honoured to back this initiative and make a major contribution to the decarbonisation objectives of Dubai Maritime City,” stated Michel.
Initiative Aligns with UAE Energy Strategy 2050 Goal
Ahmed Al Hammadi, COO of Dubai Maritime City, highlighted the project’s importance for the organization’s sustainability strategy. This strategy targets carbon neutrality by 2040 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“A key component of our sustainability plan to achieve net zero carbon by 2050 and carbon neutrality by 2040 is the use of clean energy. We are eager to begin construction on this solar plant in Dubai Maritime City and are thrilled to collaborate with forward-thinking businesses like Emerge and Masdar to expedite our shift to renewable energy sources,“ he said.
Established in 2021, Emerge is a collaboration between Masdar and EDF Group specializing in distributed solar, energy storage, and hybrid solutions for commercial and industrial clients. It provides turnkey solutions through solar power agreements that require no upfront investment.
The initiative aligns with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to have renewable sources account for 44% of the country’s clean energy mix by 2050. Furthermore, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s REmap 2030 report, rooftop solar PV is projected to contribute around 6% of the UAE’s total power generation by 2030.
