A four-member team from the solar research group within DEWA’s R&D department recently attended the 46th IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference (PVSC) 2019 in Chicago, USA. The IEEE PVSC is widely respected as the first major event to bring together international photovoltaics experts to discuss PV research and technology and it is considered the world’s longest-running technical gathering for the PV industry. DEWA’s team included Dr Aaesha Alnuaimi, Sr. Researcher; Dr Jim John, Sr. R&D Technologist; Omar Albadwawi, R&D Technologist and Ahmad Safieh, R&D Technologist.
“DEWA collaborates with local and international organisations in line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve economic, social, and environmental sustainable development and preserve natural resources within the framework of federal and local strategies, including the UAE Vision 2021, UAE Centennial 2071, the Dubai Plan 2021,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
“We seek to be always aware of the latest renewable and sustainable energy updates and research. This will maintain DEWA’s pioneering position in providing alternative solutions to conventional energy in support of sustainable development and Dubai’s quest to become the city with the world’s lowest carbon footprint by 2050. It is currently exploring the floating photovoltaic systems sector which is witnessing rapid growth in the solar power market. These prominent and emerging sustainable solutions convert photovoltaic solar systems floating on water, into power. Recently, DEWA issued a request for proposal (RFP) for appointing consultants to study, develop, and construct floating solar photovoltaic plants in several water areas in Dubai. We have high hopes that these floating solar power plants and DEWA’s other programmes and green initiatives, will contribute to achieving the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050, to reach a capacity of 42,000 megawatts by 2050. This includes the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar energy project in the world, based on the Independent Power Project model. Our combined sustainable projects will position Dubai as a leading example in energy efficiency for the region and the world,” added Al Tayer.
During the conference, DEWA presented four research papers related to : (1) Investigation of degradation observed on recent polycrystalline silicon PV modules installed in the desert region (2) Quantification of spectral losses of natural soiling and detailed microstructural analysis of dust collected from different locations in Dubai (3) Implications of Seasonal and Spatial Albedo Variation on the Energy Output of Bifacial Solar Farms: A Global Perspective and (4) The Abrasion of Photovoltaic Glass: A Comparison of the Effects of Natural and Artificial Aging. Two papers were in collaboration with NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) and Purdue University, that were well received by the scientific community. At the conference, over 900 research papers were presented from around the world, on how to make more efficient and reliable solar cells and integrate solar PV into energy systems to power the world in a sustainable way.
DEWA’s presentations at the PVSC 2019 were well received, leading to renowned research centres and organisations approaching DEWA for research collaborations or positions within DEWA’s solar research group. The next PVSC will be held in June 2020 in Calgary, Canada.