Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 19 | Page 62

INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology Solar power will provide green energy An inception meeting and training workshop has been held in Dubai to discuss establishing the ‘GCC Solar Photovoltaic Testing Centres Network.’ Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), in co-operation with the EU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network, and in association with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and other organisations from the European Union (EU) and Gulf Co-operation Council Countries (GCC), were present at the meeting. Participants also visited the solar testing facility at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar project in the world. Science and Technology, and local, regional, and European utilities and standardisation organisations. photovoltaic equipment and enhance the efficiency and performance of photovoltaic panels. Participants reviewed best practices on the methodology and procedures used to test solar photovoltaic modules. “In this region, we’re blessed with sunny days all year round. Therefore, taking advantage of this is a strategic necessity for the GCC countries,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA. The workshop discussed ways to help photovoltaic testing centres in the GCC improve their capabilities to meet international standards and provide support to transform photovoltaic labs to strong market players that can support solar photovoltaic deployment in the region. “In addition to being a clean and inexhaustible natural source of energy, the costs of producing solar power have decreased in recent years, while photovoltaic technology has improved significantly, contributing to the increase of solar power in the energy mix in the region. “This supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to anticipate the future, and make Dubai a global hub for sustainability and green economy by developing renewable and clean energy projects.” Participants in the two-day event included representatives from the Spanish National Renewable Energy Centre (CENER), European Standardisation Organisations (CEN/ CENELEC), Gulf Standardization Organisation (GSO), GCC Electrical Testing Laboratory, Masdar Institute, King Abdullah University of “At DEWA, we pay great attention to research and development to develop the next generation of photovoltaic solar panels. We collaborate with the biggest research institutions in the world and with stakeholders in the GCC and the EU, to develop innovative solutions and technologies to mitigate the effect of dust on The inception meeting discussed forming the GCC PV Testing Labs network, its aims, objectives, and organisation. 62 INTELLIGENTCIO Al Tayer noted that the research and development centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, features two solar testing facilities. The first specialises in testing photovoltaic solar panels, while the second focuses on Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). The centre is currently testing over 30 photovoltaic panel types from global manufacturers to check their performance, analyse them, and test their long-term reliability in the local climate. The tests will set a baseline www.intelligentcio.com