Dubai Airports and Emirates, the city’s flagship airline, have teamed up with the Etihad Clean Energy Development Company, a subsidiary of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). This collaboration was officially announced and marks a significant step toward enhancing the aviation sector’s commitment to renewable energy.
Dubai Airports is set to launch what will be the world’s largest rooftop solar panel installation at an airport. This ambitious project, which will be fully operational by 2026, is designed to generate an impressive 39 megawatts peak (MWp) of clean energy. It involves the installation of 62,904 solar panels across both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central—Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). The solar panels are projected to produce 60,346 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually.
State news agency WAM reported that the solar panels, strategically placed across passenger terminals and concourses at both airports, are expected to offset 23,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year. This reduction is equivalent to taking 5,000 cars off the road or powering 3,000 homes for a year.
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The clean energy generated will supply approximately 6.5% of DXB’s power needs and 20% of DWC’s, significantly contributing to Dubai Airports’ vision for cleaner and more sustainable operations. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, emphasized the commitment to renewable energy, stating, “While our roadmap outlines clear targets of achieving 25% of the energy mix from clean energy sources by 2030 and 100% by 2050, we are proactively accelerating our efforts.” He believes that the goal of 27% clean energy capacity could be achieved by 2030.
This solar initiative builds on the success of previous solar installations at DXB’s Terminal 2 and Concourse D, which have already helped reduce energy consumption and emissions. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, expressed the significance of this project, stating, “Airports are significant energy consumers, but with that comes tremendous opportunity and responsibility to drive real change. For us, this is not just about installing solar panels; it’s about embedding sustainability into the core of everything we do.”
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Dr. Waleed Alnuaimi, CEO of Etihad ESCO, reiterated the importance of this collaboration, stating, “By broadening the solar footprint and implementing transformative initiatives like Shams Dubai, we are not only reducing energy demand but also driving the adoption of sustainable energy solutions across the emirate.” The partnership aligns with Dubai’s broader sustainability agenda, ensuring a cleaner and greener future for the city.
In conjunction with Dubai Airports’ solar initiative, Emirates has also embarked on a major solar energy project at its Engineering Centre in Dubai. This project will involve the installation of 39,960 solar panels, which will provide 37% of the facility’s annual energy consumption and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by over 13,000 tonnes each year once fully operational. The total capacity of this solar installation is estimated at 23,177 kWp, with an annual generation of 34,301,960 kWh.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Emirates Airline and Group, stated, “By integrating solar energy into the Emirates Engineering Centre, we are significantly reducing our carbon footprint while supporting the UAE’s clean energy goals.” He noted that this initiative dramatically expands the number of solar installations at Emirates facilities, contributing to long-term environmental benefits.