Through the plans and objectives of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has focused on investing in solar energy as a promising opportunity to meet the growing demand for energy, and to provide favorable climatic conditions and suitable economic feasibility. By the year 2030, our world will be A very different place where clean electricity generation will dominate our energy mix, and access to water and power will be increasingly universal, improving health, productivity, and education in even the poorest nations. Africa will no longer be the dark continent, thanks to sustainable mini-grids and smart distributed energy systems that leapfrog the expensive and polluting energy infrastructure of more developed nations. Desert Technologies provides PV solar energy products & solutions for commercial, industrial, NGOs and government clients. dt’s range of PV solar products, includes on and off-grid systems, battery storage systems, hybrid solutions, solar streetlights, solar home systems & kits, and EV infrastructure systems to cover the full spectrum of the solar market.
Mr. Nour Mousa, Founder and CEO, has stated that Saudi Arabia has launched the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP), in an active aspiration to indigenize the renewable solar energy market with the highest international standards. The Saudi Ministry of Energy has approved policies stimulating the participation of the private sector in this field, and updated regulations for renewable solar energy projects to achieve the goals of the National Renewable Energy Program, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, under the direct and continuous supervision of the minister of energy.
Desert Technologies (DT) is an independent fully integrated PV solar energy platform with a proven track record as a PV developer, EPC and O&M contractor and PV solar panel & product manufacturer through its 110MW capacity factory in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). DT provides PV solar energy products & solutions for commercial, industrial, NGOs and government clients. Its range of PV solar products, includes on and off-grid systems, battery storage systems, hybrid solutions, solar streetlights, solar home systems & kits, and EV infrastructure systems to cover the full spectrum of the solar market. The company has successfully established itself as an IPP player from this region and has executed five utility-scale projects to date with our strategic partners. Headquartered in KSA, the company operates globally. DT provides many services, which include: PV installation, Electric Vehicle infrastructure and water treatment solutions.
Mr. Mousa explained that when it comes to PV installation, Desert Technologies is a turn-key Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor for Photovoltaic and Hybrid energy solutions. From A to Z, Desert Technologies will take care of Utility-scale ground-mounted installations, rooftop installations and carports. The Utility-scale ground-mounted installations are at the core of both their EPC and development business. With significant economies of scale, these large installations are ideal for grid-connected projects or off-grid projects with high consumption off-takers such as factories, mines, desalination plants, residential compounds or isolated villages. Ground-mounted installations, unlike rooftop or carport installations, require significant areas of clear, flat land. DT is also highly experienced in managing the interconnection, including high tension lines, of the utility-scale plants to the electricity grid. As with all their EPC business, DT can continue to look after the plant after construction, providing operating, maintenance and security services for all types of installations.
DT uses high-efficiency crystalline silicon panels to transform unused roof space into an electricity-generating asset. Particularly suitable for the urban environment where empty land is prohibitively expensive, rooftop installations carry additional advantages in hot countries. By insulating the roof against direct sunlight, the panels significantly reduce air conditioning costs. Furthermore, the elevated location of the panels reduces the risk of theft or accidental damage. DT’s engineering team has over 200MW of rooftop installation experience in this increasingly popular solution, making us a world leader in the field.
Mr. Sharbatly praised PV Carport canopies as a stylish and efficient solution that combines electricity by providing shelter to parked cars. The canopy can be integrated into a variety of different carport designs and structures, creating a progressive and stylish architectural statement. By installing solar panels directly onto the structure instead of layering them onto the roofing materials, DT can offset some of the construction costs. Carport canopy systems can stand alone or be combined with other building systems, such as curtain wall integrated panels or rooftop mounted arrays, to directly reduce electricity bills and minimize reliance on the grid. DT can also integrate these carports with their electric vehicle charging systems.
According to the International Energy Agency’s (“IEA”) projections, there will be 200 million electric vehicles worldwide by 2030, with an exponential growth rate in the coming years. DT is ready for the EV revolution, and is helping its clients to be ready too. DT’s expert team provides consulting services to assist companies and retailers, municipalities and governments to plan and prepare for the influx of new electrical vehicles on our roads. DT is both an equipment supplier and specialized installer for electric vehicle charging stations, providing: Full turnkey installations, Payment Solutions and POS, Operation and Maintenance, Broad range of products and solutions for all scales and requirements and Financed and BOO solutions, including long term public/private partnerships. DT is also assisting a global leader in luxury car manufacturing to prepare for the arrival of its first all-electric vehicle launching in 2019, DT is assisting the leading car manufacturer is preparing for its first all-electric car, arriving in 2019. The scope of the project covers assessing existing infrastructure, budgeting and designing EV charging infrastructure for 61 locations across 22 countries from South Africa to India, including dealerships, training centers, and service centers.
Mr. Khaled Sharbatly, Managing Partner at Desert Technologies, added that although DT is headquartered in KSA, the company operates globally. Desert Technologies is a co-developer for the ARC Project, a 65.7 MWdc (50MWac) solar photovoltaic project, the Winnergy Project, a 24.9MWdc (20MWac) solar photovoltaic project and the Arinna Project, a 24.9 MWdc (20MWac) solar photovoltaic project in Benban, Egypt. These projects benefit from a 25-year PPA with Egyptian Transmission Company S.A.E., with a guarantee from the Ministry of Finance, under Round 2 of the Feed in Tariff program. The projects achieved financial close in October 2017 and are financed by a syndicated loan arranged by the IFC (World Bank Group).
Alongside Enerray Spa, DT stepped in as a co-developer and turnkey Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contractor in the Falcon Ma’an 23.1 MWdc project located within the Ma’an Development Area. The project is backed by a20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) as well as a Ministry of Finance guarantee and is financed in part by a 40 million USD syndicated loan arranged by the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group). The project achieved financial close in October 2016, and DT is now the operation & maintenance provider. The main components for this project were provided by Jinko Solar (Polysilicon Modules), SMA (Inverters), Clavijo Group (Fixed tilt mounting structures).
DT also acted in a joint venture with Enerray Spa as the full turnkey Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contractor for the Shamsuna Project located in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. Like DT’s Falcon Ma’an solar plant, the project is part of Jordan’s first round of photovoltaic energy procurement, and achieved commercial operation in February 2016. The project is comprised of 40,320 solar photovoltaic panels of 250 Wp each, for a total capacity of 10.08 MWp. The plant is now under an operation and maintenance contract with Desert Technologies and Enerray in a joint venture, and the plant is producing an approximately 20,000,000 kWh per annum. The main components used in this project are Trina Solar (Polysilicon Modules), ABB Powerone (Inverters), Sunspyre (Fixed tilt mounting structures).
Between July and December 2017, Desert Technologies installed a series of entirely independent, off-grid (photovoltaic plus storage) systems of 87KWp in different locations in the Al-Zatari Syrian refugee camp in AlMafraq, Jordan under contract from a major multilateral aid agency, to provide efficient, secure and affordable energy. The project included Victron deep-cycle batteries (220 Ah each) and inverters, alongside Jinko solar panels. The project was completed at the end of 2017.
Mr. Sharbatly also stated: "Desert Technologies is a growing business in an ever-expanding field with more and more discoveries, innovations and initiatives. DT will be ahead of the game with our integrated approach, which allows us to observe and study every aspect of the manufacturing, production and distribution processes. Helping us make the lowest risk investments with higher profits and greater outcomes, and also provide thousands of job opportunities that didn’t exist before, and wouldn’t have existed otherwise."