ABB’s new 315 kilowatt (kW) solar power plant, one of the largest of its kind in the region, was inaugurated by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

The inauguration was attended by two top ABB officials – Frank Duggan, president of Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), and Gianandrea Bruzzone, Electrification Division manager for the Middle East and Africa (MEA), said a press statement from DEWA.

The plant, located in the ABB offices at the Al Quoz industrial area of Dubai, will produce electricity using solar energy. The energy produced at the plant will supply ABB offices and transfer surplus energy to DEWA’s network.

This supports the Shams (Sun) Dubai initiative, which was launched by DEWA and allows customers to install photovoltaic panels on their rooftops to generate electricity from solar power, and connect the systems to DEWA’s grid, creating, producing, and using energy.

“I am pleased to inaugurate the ABB 315 KW solar project, as part of Shams Dubai initiative and congratulate ABB on this important achievement,” commented Al Tayer.

Shams Dubai supports the Smart Dubai initiative, and aims to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city. And as of mid-January 2017, DEWA has connected a total of 302 photovoltaic systems on building rooftops.

To date, 52 consultancies and contracting companies have been registered, in addition to 311 engineers that have been certified as enrolled electrical and solar photovoltaic consultants and contractors.