Dubai’s solar plan to power jobs boom

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Dubai’s solar plan to power jobs boom Dubai’s plans to generate 75 per cent of its energy through clean sources will create more than 8,000 qualified jobs year after year, an executive at Europe’s biggest solar panel firm has predicted. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, last month launched the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to make Dubai a centre of clean energy and green economy. It aims to provide 7 per cent of Dubais energy from clean energy sources by 2020, increasing to 25 per cent by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050. Luc Grare, Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa at REC, said, “The announced targets are a good step for an emerging industry like Solar in the UAE. “It clearly demonstrates the huge momentum for renewable energies, and in UAE mainly for solar. “Moreover, adding around 650 megawatts of solar capacity per year will create more than 8,000 additional high and lower qualified jobs year after year.” The Clean Energy Initiative sets out plans for solar panels to be installed on the roofs of all buildings in Dubai by 2030, representing a major opportunity for companies. Mohammed El Farnawany, director of strategic management at the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency, (IRENA), said there is a “huge opportunity” for Gulf States to embrace low-cost solar panel schemes and reduce fossil fuel inputs. He said: “It is initiatives like this that will help put Dubai on the path of developing a viable and sustainable energy infrastructure.” An IRENA report from earlier this year stated solar photovoltaic is the largest renewables employer globally, ahead of biofuels, wind, hydropower and geothermal. It comprises 2.5 million of the 7.7 million global renewables jobs. However, if Dubai wants to successfully reach these targets, regulations for approvals and grid connection by local authorities need be improved, said REC vice president Grare. He said: “This will increase efficiency and speed up solar industry growth, this step is necessary to better secure investments. Without these decreased bureaucracy, the set targets of 75 per cent clean electricity by 2030 will be difficult to reach. “But if this constraint will be solved, the related deployment of additional 650MW of solar capacity per year, considering growing energy demand is possible,” he added. mahak@7days.ae Read the original story at: Dubai’s solar plan to power jobs boom