Regional solar projects will spur investment, education and employment in the sector, say experts

According to a news release, the first Green Brunch of 2012 themed ‘Accelerating the Progress of Solar Energy in the Middle East’ was held at ENPARK’s new headquarters at the Nucleotide Lab Complex, in Dubai Biotechnology Park, and drew a cross-section of industry stakeholders. During the event, experts reportedly concurred that the recent announcement by the Government of Dubai on establishing the 1,000 MW Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum Solar Park project constituted a watershed that would stimulate every component of the solar supply chain in Dubai.

In this context, Saeed Ghubash, Director of ENPARK, said: “Through today’s Green Brunch, ENPARK expresses full support to Dubai’s Integrated Strategy of Energy 2030 and its objective of reducing Dubai’s carbon dioxide emissions by 30% by 2030. Diversification of energy sources is one of the crucial aims of the strategy, and solar energy is one of the first resources that must be tapped. The 1,000 MW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park Project exemplifies the stringent steps Dubai is taking towards its objective.”

Saeed Ghubash, Director of ENPARK; Nimer Abu Ali, Executive Manager at Ernst & Young; Fatima Al Shamsi, Senior Manager of New Business Development, DEWA; Dr Lana El Chaar, Senior Marketing Development Manager at GE Energy and Prabissh Thomas, Managing Director, PTL Solar, during ENPARK’s Green Brunch series.

Elaborating on the project, Fatima Al Shamsi, Senior Manager, New Business Development, DEWA, said: “The first phase of the project will consist of a 10 MW photovoltaic array, scheduled to go live in 2013. DEWA and the Supreme Council of Energy are committed to achieving the Government of Dubai’s energy vision. We will work towards meeting the needs of the emirate’s present and future generations in line with this philosophy.”

Prabissh Thomas, Managing Director, PTL Solar, added that the implementation of the project would create a demand for unique knowledge base and skill sets, and that his company had established the PTL Solar Academy, claimed to be Dubai’s first renewable energy training institute, in collaboration with US-based institute, Solar Energy International (SEI), and the British University in Dubai (BUiD).

The Green Brunch was the fifth in a series of educational seminars that ENPARK periodically organises to discuss energy and sustainability industry trends. The sessions typically feature presentations and open debates to help raise awareness of new energy and environment-related technologies, as well as solutions available in the regional market.