Dubai Airports recently announced a landmark collaboration with Etihad Clean Energy Development Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DEWA, to launch the world’s largest rooftop solar panel installation project at an airport.
To solidify this ambitious initiative, Dubai Airports and Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO) formalized an agreement during the World Green Economy Summit which took place at the Dubai World Trade Center on October 2-3, 2024. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, and Dr. Waleed Alnuaimi, CEO of Etihad ESCO, signed the agreement.
62,904 solar panels across DXB and DWC
The Dubai Airports solar project, with a total of 39MWp of clean energy, will be fully operational by 2026. It involves the installation of 62,904 solar panels across Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) airports to generate 60,346MWh annually.
“Airports are significant energy consumers, but with that comes tremendous opportunity and responsibility to drive real change. For us, this is not just about installing solar panels; it’s about embedding sustainability into the core of everything we do,” stated Griffiths.
The solar panels will span passenger terminals and concourses across both airports. They will offset around 23,000 tons of CO2 annually. That is equivalent to taking 5,000 cars off the road or powering 3,000 homes for a year.
The solar energy project will also meet 6.5 percent of DXB’s power needs and 20 percent of DWC’s, reinforcing Dubai Airports’ long-term vision for cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable operations.
“Every kilowatt we generate from renewable sources brings us closer to shrinking our carbon footprint and future-proofing our operations. This is about setting the standard and leading the way for what a truly sustainable airport can achieve,” he added.
Sustainability initiatives at Dubai Airports
This solar initiative complements a series of ongoing environmental sustainability efforts by Dubai Airports. This includes retrofitting hundreds of thousands of LED lights and optimizing cooling systems. Dubai Airports has also implemented initiatives to cut food waste to landfills and switch to biodiesel-powered ground vehicles. Therefore, Dubai Airports has committed to making measurable, impactful changes one step at a time.
The solar project also builds on the successful installation of solar panels at DXB’s Terminal 2 and Concourse D.
“Our longstanding partnership with Dubai Airports plays a pivotal role in our strategy to accelerate Dubai’s sustainability agenda. This project, and others like it, demonstrates our commitment to building an integrated ecosystem that aligns with Dubai’s vision for a greener, more energy-efficient future,” stated Alnuaimi.
Dubai set to be among the most sustainable cities globally
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, managing director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) noted that the solar project at Dubai Airports falls in line with Dubai’s goal of becoming one of the most sustainable cities in the world.
“While our roadmap outlines clear targets of achieving 25 percent of the energy mix from clean energy sources by 2030, and 100 percent by 2050, we are proactively accelerating our efforts,” he stated.
Al Tayer also expects Dubai to surpass these goals, potentially reaching 27 percent clean energy capacity as early as 2030. This would enable the city to achieve its 2050 vision ahead of schedule.
“Undoubtedly, innovation and cutting-edge technologies are instrumental in expediting our progress towards a greener future,” Al Tayer added.
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