Create a solar powered home in Dubai with DEWA
Ever since Leonardo DiCaprio made that rousing speech in his long-awaited Oscar moment, the reality of climate change is being discussed more and more. His dodgy facts aside, Mr DiCaprio’s message is relevant. We need to move towards more sustainable energy sources to look after our environment. What better way to do this than go solar with DEWA in sunny Dubai! Here is MyBayut guide on how to create a solar power home in Dubai.
Just like the move with electric vehicles, the Dubai government is actively supporting the decision to use solar energy which will enhance the Dubai real estate market. Shams is an innovative initiative by DEWA to connect solar energy to properties in Dubai, so more homes are solar powered. The time is certainly right to let out your Captain Planet alter ego and go solar with DEWA and create a solar power home in Dubai.
Pros of having a solar power home in Dubai with DEWA
Before going into the details of how to join the growing solar bandwagon, here is some information for homeowners who wants to go solar.
Solar energy is one of the most promising sources of renewable energy for the future. It’s environment-friendly and cost-effective. It works with the use of a Photovoltaic (PV) system that uses cells made up of semiconductors to convert sunlight into electricity.
Turning your Dubai home solar with DEWA involves several steps to install the solar panels. Setting this up does require an initial investment, but over time solar is cheaper than traditional energy sources. You will definitely be seeing the cost saving on DEWA bills by turning your home solar. Think of it as a one-off investment to meet your power needs for the next 25 years!
Here’s a bonus of having a solar power home in Dubai. Using solar panels in Dubai increases the valuation of your property. So if you want to sell in future, chances are high that you are going to make a better deal than your old-fashioned neighbour! And don’t forget that if you are a solar homeowner in Dubai, your selling prices are bound to go up.
Just in case you were sitting on the fence, DEWA is offering other incentives too. As a part of the net metering scheme, if you produce more electricity than you consume, it can be injected into the DEWA distribution network. This is then credited to you and used to offset future bills. Therefore you will soon be seeing significant savings on that dreaded electricity bill by turning your home solar. And we can all agree, lower bills are always welcome!
Steps to install solar panels in Dubai and turn your home solar
There are a few stages in turning your home solar with DEWA. The process to add could take anything between a few weeks to several months depending on the size and capacity of the solar equipment in Dubai.
- NOC certificate
- The Design Approval stage
- The Inspection and Connection Stage
- The Generation Stage
First, you have to hire one of the DEWA approved Electrical and DRRG Solar PV Consultants or Contractors. You can find this list on the DEWA website. They put together all the requisite material and complete your submissions while ensuring that you get all the approvals from DEWA at each stage. The actual installations and connections happen after the design approval comes through. Once you install the meter and complete the paperwork, the real magic starts! Your house will become your electricity provider with a little help from Mr Sun!
Show Me The Money
The big question with any investment of this kind is what the damage is going to be. Unfortunately, there is no concrete price tag to turning your Dubai home solar at the moment. The cost depends on a number of factors including the size of the system, the system manufacturer, retailer, and installer. According to DEWA, between 30-50% of the total installation cost is for the PV modules.
Other costs to consider when going solar with DEWA:
- Cleaning cost: Solar panels and an entire solar system in Dubai are exposed to dust. So they need cleaning every 15 days. Besides, there is an annual cleaning cost with a specialised cleaning service.
- The fee for your consultant/contractor.
- Any construction costs for the installation
- The one-off connection fee (AED 1,500)
Who CAN go solar with DEWA?
Solar has truly come a long way from something that only large commercial establishments could think of. That said, there are certain technicalities to consider before going for a solar power home in Dubai. It’s quite obvious that only owners of villas in Dubai can currently use solar energy.
The roof orientation, shading and surface area determine whether you can efficiently generate solar power. They are also factors in choosing the size and type of equipment.
There are three factors to consider when installing solar cells onto the building’s envelope:
- Panels’ orientation to the sun
- Panels’ inclination
- Potential shadow
So there you have it! The complete guide for turning your home solar in Dubai. It may seem complicated at first glance, but working with the DEWA-approved consultants and contractors, makes it more simple.
It is one of those decisions that may seem like an expensive choice now, but will definitely yield returns in the future. If you are looking to invest in or rent an environmentally friendly property, check out properties in the Dubai Sustainability City, all of which come with solar panels. Imagine a day when you don’t have massive electricity bills to worry about AND you can take pride in being an environmental superhero. Win-win, don’t you think?
To go the extra mile and go green in your decor, check out these easy tips. And if you want to extend your environmental superhero avatar to the workplace, here are some nifty ways to recycle.
