16 AUGUST 2019 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST http://www.logisticsmiddleeast.comNEWS ANALYSIS | SOLAR ENERGY
In the last four months there have been
a spate of major solar rooftop project an-
nouncements, from retailers and 3PLs
to chemical logistics players and even
Dubai Airports. This is due in large part
to government eë orts to switch to renew-
able energy.
Four of the GCC’s top ten renewable energy projects are
solar developments in the UAE. These include Phases 3 and
4 of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the
Dh3.2-billion Sweihan photovoltaic plant in Abu Dhabi, and
a 200 megawatt project being developed at Falaj Al Mu’alla
in Umm Al Quwain to serve the northern emirates.
By 2050, the UAE will have invested Dh600 billion to meet
its growing energy demand and generated Dh700 billion in
savings while ensuring sustainable economic growth, ac-
cording to official projections. And warehouses, with their
unique flat-roof design, are getting in on the action.
In late March, Middle East retailer Apparel Group launched
its solar plant at its Dubai warehouse facilities in partnership
with SirajPower, a UAE provider of solar roofs. The 2 MWp
solar plants installed at two of Apparel Group’s warehouses
in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) are expected to cover more
than 55% of the company’s electricity consumption, saving
2,121 metric tons of CO2 during the first year of operation.
The annual savings with this initiative would be equivalent
to taking 450 cars off the roads and is part of Apparel Group’s
CSR initiative towards sustainability.
“At Apparel Group, social responsibility is at the heart of
our business. From small initiatives like reduction of paperWHY ARE
SO MANY
WAREH OU S E S
GOING SOLAR?
We are always looking
for creative ways to re-
duce both our operational
costs and environmental
footprint. ”
HISHAM AL AMOUDI, CEO OF KOJIn the last few months there have been
a spate of announcements of solar
rooftop projects from warehouse
operators across the industry in the UAELonguet, CEO at^ Laurent
SirajPower.