Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is arranging a 3 day workshop on the effect of soiling on photovoltaic (PV) modules, in cooperation with the United States Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). PV experts from research, scholastic, and government organisations participated in the workshop held from 5-7 April 2016 at the Address Dubai Mall hotel.

The workshop exchanges expertise and best international practices in combating the impact of soiling on PV modules and their performance. It also talks about PV module upkeep and operation, studies that ought to be carried out, and solutions to face this problem.

DEWA gives priority to Research and Development (R&D), sustainability, renewable energy, and photovoltaic technology. This supports the National Innovation Strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE one of the most innovative countries in the world, said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

"The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park plays host to numerous of the significant projects in this field, such as the interactive innovation centre, geared up with the latest innovations in clean and eco-friendly energy, improving the abilities of nationwide renewable and sustainable energy. DEWA's Innovation Centre includes a group of R&D centres that specialise in clean energy innovations, drone research, and solar energy based desalination, worth an overall investment of AED 500 million. DEWA adopts an integrated strategy to promote research in eco-friendly energy and water and implement creative ideas and recommendations.We are also committed to adopting the best studies and research in all our operations and services, enhancing our leading position, achieving our vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility, and achieving the Dubai Plan 2021 to become a city of happy, creative, and empowered people. This also supports the Dubai Innovation Strategy to make Dubai the most innovative city in the world, added Al Tayer.

"DEWA Innovation Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park consists of a number of clean energy R&D laboratories. DEWA provides priority to R&D, innovation, R&D operations, and solar screening, to boost the abilities of PV modules, and minimize the dangers dealt with by photovoltaic modules due to extreme environmental conditions. The centre also checks solar cell and PV panel technologies and production in terms of security, versatility, and other requirements to cope with different weather condition conditions and the surrounding environment, in both open spaces, and when integrated into buildings" said Al Tayer.

"The primary tasks of the solar screening facility include: dust impact and mitigation models, comprehending physical and chemical yards of local dust and surfaces, field tests for novel methods, the impacts of staining on PV cells, endurance tests, energy analysis to discover field flaws, reliability and quality models, field failure or destruction forecast connection with present accelerated tests, advancement of novel accelerated tests personalized for Dubai's climate, and technological assessment of performance. Today's workshop, organised in cooperation with the United States Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, reflects our commitment to ensuring that solar innovation is appropriately designed, set up within production units, and on the roofs of buildings, and linked to DEWA's grid to support Shams Dubai effort. Shams Dubai, released by DEWA, makes it possible for consumers to install photovoltaic panels on structure roofs, and link them to DEWA's grid," Al Tayer continued.

"DEWA is diversifying its energy mix to include clean and renewable resource. DEWA released the Shams Dubai initiative as part of its efforts to support the Smart Dubai effort, released by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to change Dubai into the most smartest city on the planet. The main drivers for the initiative are to motivate using renewable energy in Dubai by educating and presenting consumers to it. DEWA has a well-defined strategy, and an ambitious vision, to support the advancement and facility of sustainable energy projects in Dubai. DEWA has actually enhanced the targets for renewable resource to 7 % of Dubai's overall power output by 2020 and 25 % by 2030. DEWA aims to install PV panels on federal government buildings and schools, to produce clean energy locally, alleviate electrical energy expenses, add to the conservation of the environment, and guarantee a sustainable future for the Emirate," noted Al Tayer.

"This workshop will have an effective function in supporting these efforts, by means of the exchange of abilities in between DEWA's R&D centre, and some of the world's key players in the market who specialise in managing the effect of soiling on photovoltaic technology. The impact of soiling is the greatest obstacle faced by photovoltaic projects locally, and throughout the region. DEWA aspires to have a leading role in tackling this problem in cooperation with a few of the very best research study organisations," concluded Al Tayer.