A massive solar installation on the roof of Dubai airports has been announced

Photo: WAM/ For illustration purposes

Dubai Airports has partnered with Etihad Clean Energy Development Company, a subsidiary of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), to install the world’s largest airport rooftop solar panel project.

The initiative, which is expected to be fully operational by 2026, will cover Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

As part of the solar initiative, which is expected to generate a total of 39 megawatts of peak (MWp) of clean energy, 62,904 solar panels will be installed at both airports.

The panels will provide as much as 60,346 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable energy annually, reducing the airports’ carbon footprint by approximately 23,000 tons of CO2 annually, the equivalent of taking 5,000 cars off the road or powering 3,000 homes a year.

Specifically, the project will cover 6.5 percent of DXB’s total energy demand and 20 percent of DWC’s demand, reinforcing Dubai Airports’ commitment to sustainable development.

The photovoltaic installation is a key part of Dubai Airports’ long-term vision to deliver greener, smarter and more energy-efficient operations.

Dubai Airports is in line with the emirate’s vision of sustainable development

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Energy Council and Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, ​​emphasized the project’s alignment with the UAE’s broader sustainability goals. He noted that Dubai is on track to achieve its ambitious clean energy goals and plans to source 25% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050.

“We intend to exceed these goals, likely achieving 27% clean energy capacity by 2030.” – added Al Tayer. “This initiative accelerates our efforts and innovation will play a key role in making Dubai a global leader in sustainability.”

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, expressed excitement about the positive impact the project will have on the airport’s operations. “Airports are significant consumers of energy, but they also present huge opportunities for significant change.”

“This project is not just about installing solar panels; it’s about building sustainability into the essence of everything we do. Every kilowatt generated from renewable sources brings us closer to reducing our carbon footprint and future-proofing our business,” Griffiths explained.

Dr. Waleed Alnuaimi of Etihad ESCO added: “This partnership with Dubai Airports is key to our strategy to accelerate Dubai’s sustainability goals. Through projects like these, we are expanding the reach of solar energy, helping to reduce energy demand while driving the implementation of clean energy solutions across the emirate.”

The new Dubai Airports project builds on the success of previous solar initiatives at Terminal 2 and the DXB DXB concourse, where solar energy has already reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions.