RENEWABLE GREEN LEADERS

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Promoting A
Sustainable Future
For Generations
To Come
His Excellency
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer
Vice Chairman of the Dubai
Supreme Council of Energy
and MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity
and Water Authority (DEWA)

Special Features:
Another Record Breaking Year
For Renewable Energy
ABB: Partners For A Clean Future
Kingspan PalDuct For Dubai Sustainable City
Will PAYG Be The Next Leapfrog That
Disrupts Traditional Economies?
Dubai Science Park: Delivering Excellence
To Dubais Science Community
The Three Engineering Fields Bill Gates Wants
You To Focus On
Going The Extra Mile with Hilti JULY 2017
ISSUE NO. 003
 Sponsored Article
MadTree Brewing
Craft brewer to incorporate
Veolias Sirion Mega technology
to produce high purity water
F ast growing and critically acclaimed
Cincinnati craft brewer MadTree
Brewing has chosen Veolia Water
Technologies Sirion Mega technology
solution to ensure water quality control as
the brewer undergoes a planned expansion.
The 100 GPM (gallons per minute) RO unit
produces high purity water, removing up to
MAINTAIN
97% of dissolved inorganic and more than
PRODUCT
QUALITY 99% of large dissolved organic material,
colloids and particlesproviding consistent
water quality for MadTrees beer production
process. Any excess output from the RO will
be directed to the boiler as water make-up
thereby further delivering increased water &
energy efficiency in operations.
Currently producing approximately 25,000
barrels of beer a year, the brewery expansion
will increase production to 35,000 barrels
annually. Furthermore there is enough
room to support future growth by adding
potential capacity to boost output to
180,000 barrels.
According to co-founder Jeff Hunt,
maintaining product quality was the
brewers over-riding objective when it
contemplated expanding production to
meet increased customer demand. "Since
water makes up 95% of beer, water quality
plays an important part influencing our beers
flavor profile. As we planned for our new,
expanded production facility it was critical to
us to be able to control the incoming water of
our brewing process to insure we maintained
consistent quality and taste of the beers. As
such, we didn't want a standard RO unit.
Hunt continued: What we found most
appealing about Veolia's RO technology was
its ability to provide feedback, which will
allow us to fine-tune the incoming water as
needed to be able to produce the high quality
of beers our customers expect. Moving ahead
we are fortunate to be able to call upon
Veolia's industry experience and technological
expertise to help make sure we maintain the
high quality standards that have fueled our
growth.
As part of the largest water company in the
world, Veolia Water Technologies enjoys a
commanding presence in the beer brewing
industry with more than 150 and growing
brewery customers globally. Veolias more
than 350 proprietary technologies support
its solutions and service value across the
entire spectrum of the brewing process
from product & process water, to water
recycling and wastewater solutions.
Weve seen the explosive growth in the craft
brewing sector of the market, particularly in
the U.S., said Ted Lawson, Marketing Director
for Veolia Water Technologies, and we
recognize the growing needs these brewers
have for improving both process water and
wastewater treatment. We are committed
to leveraging our technical knowledge and
experience to add value by helping emerging
brewers grow and succeed.
 Sponsored Article

Paulaner
brewery
Environmentally friendly
wastewater treatment

T he Paulaner brewery is one of the best-

known German breweries, with a long
tradition of the finest Munich art of brewing.
The annual production exceeds 2 million
hectoliters. The popularity of Paulaner beer
has always extended beyond the city limits of
Munich, both nationally and internationally.
Paulaner beer is enjoyed in more than 70
countries worldwide.
The challenge
Due to the increasing popularity
of Paulaner beer the existing
production site Nockherberg
in the center of Munich
reached its limits. In order
to secure ample capacities
for future growth, Paulaner
decided to move the production
to Munich-Langwied. The new
site has sufficient space as well as
excellent connections to the highway.
The new brewery had to be built with an
emphasis on modern and environmentally
friendly brewery technology as well as an
energy and emission-optimized infrastructure.
The solution
The beer production process generates
organically loaded wastewater streams which
are easily biodegradable. With conventional
biological treatment, biological degradation is
achieved by using aerobic organisms. These,
however, need to be fed with oxygen, resulting
in high operating costs and CO2 emissions.
Paulaner selected an environmentally friendly
anaerobic treatment. The degradation
process does not need oxygen, so the energy
consumption is considerably reduced. Another
advantage is the production of energy-rich
biogas, which can be used on site in the boiler
house.
To ensure a high level of operational
reliability for their future
wastewater treatment, Paulaner
chose the proven Biobed system
supplied by Aquantis, a German
subsidiary of the leading Veolia
Water Technologies group.
Key Figures
Wastewater volume:
2,800 m/d
Load:
23,500 kg COD/d
Biogas production:
385 Nm/h
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 5
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 As we head towards a new era of renewable energy, several
companies have already made the shift and new leaders have
emerged to set a good example for other companies to follow.
With the alarming news of how climate change is rapidly affecting
everyone around the world, its about time that everyone - from big
institutions to individual citizens - join the movement to help save
the environment and mankind.

In this months GineersNow: Renewable Green Leaders, we put

the spotlight on Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). It
is one of the leading government utilities in the world, providing
services today to more than 800,000 customers with a satisfaction
and happiness rate that reached 95% in 2016. Learn more
about how DEWA is promoting a sustainable future for the new
generations to come and get to know the man behind DEWAs
management, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, HIs

EDITORS
Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.

We are also featuring special stories from several companies such

as Kingspan, CLS Energy Consultants , Dubai Carbon, Applant,

NOTE
ABB, Hilti, Mobisol, and Inmesol.

Find out how Applants new Kickstarter campaign is going to

make an impact in vertical farming. Learn more about Renewables
2017 Global Status Report, which was published by REN21, as it
reports that 2017 is a record breaking year for renewable energy.
We have also featured Mobisols special report on PAYG (Pay As
You Go) and how it disrupts traditional economies in East Africa,
making solar home system distribution easier in the area.

Read our special story from Hilti which features the former PT&A
Product Manager, Konstantin Fedin, story on how he turned his
passion for battery technology into a year long project and how he
succeeded with Hilti. You also dont want to miss the new details
about Dubai Science Park as it delivers excellence to Dubais
Science Community. Lastly, find out which engineering fields Bill
Gates wants you to focus on.

Now, get excited for more interesting stories in the renewable

industry! So sit back and learn something new today. Keep up with
the latest trends on this Industry with GineersNow: Renewable
Green Leaders.

Engr. Alice Hernandez

Senior Editor-at-Large
Contents
Kingspan PalDuct For Dubai
Sustainable City
10
DEWA: Promoting A Sustainable Future 12
For Generations To Come
Bill Gates Wants You to Consider These 3 18
as Your Engineering Fields of Focus
Dubai Science Park Delivering 20
Excellence to Dubais Science Community
Minister of Climate Change and 24
Environment Releasing 30,000 Fish in
Marine Protected Areas in Dibba, Fujairah
Commercial Viability Of Battery Based 26
Energy Storage Supported Solar
Desalination
Solar Power to Ensure A Gensets Start-up 30
and Function at Sites With No Mains
Available
New Melbourne-Based Ag-Tech Company, 32
Applant, is Releasing The First Manual
Vertical Farming Unit, aTree
GOING THE EXTRA MILE. Batteries included 34
UAE Delegation Marks Successful
Participation at World Scientific and
36
Engineering Congress (WSEC 2017)
Another Record Breaking Year 38
for Renewable Energy
ABB: Partners For A Clean Future 40
Will PAYG Be The Next Leapfrog That 44
Disrupts Traditional Economies?
Connecting The Dots: 48
For A Sustainable Emirate
Sterling and Wilson Scales New Heights; 53
Gets Awarded the Worlds Largest Solar PV
Plant
The Technology Behind the Worlds 54
Largest Floating Photovoltaic Power Plant
Thermal Storage: The Greenest Way To 55
Boost PV Self-Consumption
Age-Old Technology Is Making Its Way 56
Back Thanks To Renewables
 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 9
9
 Kingspan PalDuct For
Dubai Sustainable City
20,000 m2of the Kingspan PalDuct PIR System
has been installed into the 500 townhouses and
villas that form the residential section of Dubais
Sustainable City.
The modern application of social, economic
and environmental sustainability embodies the
Sustainable City, Dubai. Diamond Developers
achieved this through innovative design,
stakeholder engagement and future monitoring
to sustain itself. The city is modelled to become a
global reference point for sustainable living, work,
education and recreation, as the first functioning
Net Zero Energy city in Dubai. The city spans over
450,000 m2*(46 ha.) and provides a complete
suite of facilities and environmental features. The
first phase of the City is nearing completion and
comprises five residential clusters, a buffer zone,
a central green spine, an equestrian club, and a
mixed use development.
Diamond Developers have created several
strategies set to redefine sustainable livingin hot
climates and encourage the global movement
towards sustainable development.A water
strategy was developed, which includes water
saving devices, grey water recycling, and treated
sewage effluent reuse in landscape irrigation.
They have also targeted to achieve 100 percent
waste diversion from landfills through a waste
management strategy. The clusters within the city
are car-free zones and only accessible on foot
or by electric buggies through narrow sikkas
For further information please contact: Tel: +971 (0) 4 889 1000 Fax: +971 (0) 43 883 8515
10 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017
that link the city together. This strategy is set to
encourage residents to depend less on motorised
transport and more on walking and bicycling.
Construction of the second phase of TSC will
commence this year and will comprise the Indigo
Hotel, a Country Club and Rehabilitation Centre,
a School, and the Innovation Hub.
The Kingspan PalDuct PIR System is fabricated
by specially trained contractors from Kingspan
PalDuct PIR panels. Once fabricated, it forms an
innovative pre-insulated HVAC ductwork system.
The Systems inherent low level of air leakage
can result in considerably reduced electrical
consumption. With The Kingspan PalDuct PIR
System, ventilation air flows over aluminium
surfaces and does not have contact with any
material containing loose fibres, making it ideal
for high specification projects.
The System is significantly lighter in weight than
traditional sheet metal ducting, which also takes
much longer to fabricate. Sheet metal ducting
needs to be thermally insulated as a second
process, however, the lightweight but strong
Kingspan PalDuct PIR System requires only a
single fix installation. This not only delivers a
faster option for projects where time is critical,
but also provides substantial space saving
advantages.
 Dubai Electricity
And Water Authority (DEWA):

Promoting A
Sustainable Future
For Generations
To Come

12 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)
is one of the leading government utilities in the
world providing services today to more than
800,000 customers with a satisfaction and
happiness rate that reached 95% in 2016.
DEWA has achieved competitive results,
surpassing leading European and American
companies by reducing losses in power
transmission and distribution networks to
3.3%, compared to 6-7% in Europe and the
USA. Water network losses decreased to 8.0%,
compared to 15% in North America. DEWAs
results are among the best internationally for
customer minutes lost per year. DEWAs figures
reached 3.28 minutes, compared to 15 minutes
recorded by leading utilities in the European
Union. The UAE, represented by DEWA,
has been ranked first in the Middle East and
North Africa and fourth globally for the fourth
consecutive year for getting electricity as per the
World Banks Doing Business 2017 report.
DEWA was formed on 1 January 1992, by a
decree issued by the late Sheikh Maktoum bin
Rashid Al Maktoum to merge Dubai Electricity
Company and Dubai Water Department, which
had been operating independently before then.
Both organisations were established by the late
Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum in 1959.
Our long term goals derive from the Dubai Clean
Energy Strategy (DCES 2050), launched by HH
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE
and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a
global hub for clean energy and green economy.
DCES 2050 sets a target for the provision of 7%
of Dubais energy from clean energy sources by
2020, increasing to 25% by 2030, and 75% by
2050. The strategy also establishes a USD 27
billion Dubai Green Zone, to create joint ventures
with world-class players in renewable energy for
Dubai to become a global centre for clean energy
with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by
2050.
DEWA manages and operates the Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the
largest single-site solar project in the world. It
will produce 1,000MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by
2030, with a total investment of USD 13.6 billion.
In addition to our efforts to implement the Dubai
Clean Energy Strategy 2050, DEWA supports
the Smart Dubai Initiative to make Dubai the
smartest and happiest city in the world. DEWA
has three initiatives to support Smart Dubai. The
first initiative is called Shams Dubai to encourage
building owners to install solar photovoltaic
panels to offset their energy use and export
excess power to the power grid. The second
initiative is currently installing more than a million
smart meters across Dubai by 2020, to replace
all mechanical and electro-mechanical meters
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 13
 during the next few years. The third is the rollout
of electric vehicle charging stations across Dubai
to support the directives of Dubai Government
to ensure that, between 2016 and 2020, 2% of
all cars purchased are either electric or hybrid
vehicles, with the target set to increase to 10% by
2030.
The generation of electricity through solar
and renewable energy in the UAE marks the
beginning of a new era of an economy that is
based on environmental sustainability and clean
energy. This supports the vision of HH Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - for Dubai to
be the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the
world. This also supports the long-term National
Green Economy for Sustainable Development
initiative to build a green economy in the UAE,
and the Dubai Plan 2021 for Dubai to be a
smart and sustainable city whose environmental
elements are clean, healthy, and sustainable.
In line with our leaderships vision to promote
Dubais sustainable development, the Dubai
Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 has been
developed in alignment with the strategy of
Dubai Government. This energy strategy puts the
security of supply amongst its key objectives;
to achieve sustainable development, meet the
needs of both present and future generations and
14 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017
to create an urban infrastructure with sustainable
resources for Dubai, affirming our citys leading
role in solar energy and creating a new sector
in the region. Our wise leadership realises the
importance of providing energy supplies and
finding alternative solutions to traditional energy,
and the importance of developing renewable and
alternative energy, because it has a direct impact
on sustainable development.
We look forward to adopting the best electricity
and water technologies and promote partnerships
with the private sector across the world. Such
partnerships are important for both parties as
DEWA gets the most modern technologies, while
those companies have strategic opportunities
to continue enhancing their technologies. Our
ambitious goals for Dubai can only be achieved
when we collaborate with each other to make
Dubai a smart and sustainable city, as well as the
preferred place to live, work and visit.
We are currently building our new headquarters
which will be the largest, tallest and smartest
net Zero Energy Building (ZEB) in the world. To
be ready in 2019 Alsheraa which is Arabic for
sail, the building is designed like a ships sail,
reminiscent of the countrys pearl and fishing
dhow past, which are major elements of the
UAEs heritage, and a symbol of sustainability.
The building will aim for a LEED Platinum rating,
which is the highest attainable certification in
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design).
The total built up area of Alsheraa will be over
1.5 million square feet and will accommodate
5,000 employees in addition to customers and
visitors. It will have over 16,500 square metres
of Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels producing
over 3,500 kilowatts (kW). There will be over
2,000 square metres of Building Integrated
Photovoltaic (BIPV). In addition, the building will
use the latest technologies including Internet of
Things (IoT), Big Data and Open Technologies,
and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Cleaning and
security robots will be used, in addition to a
smart app on smart devices for easy updates to
staff, regarding traffic conditions while travelling
to and from work. The app will make employees
aware of their energy consumption and assist
them in improving the overall energy budget
management, which will be overseen by a state-
of-the-art building management and control
centre, which will automatically shut down non-
essential systems including air-conditioning and
lighting, when not in use.
DEWAs growing list of projects, initiatives
and programmes reflects its commitment
to supporting sustainable development by
increasing its dependence on natural resources,
and changing the future of energy in the region.
DEWA aims to achieve sustainability, promote
prosperity and the well-being of citizens,
residents, and visitors alike, while ensuring a
sustainable future for generations to come.
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 15
His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer
Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy
and MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)
Managing Director and
Chief Executive Officer
Biography:
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer is Dubai Electricity &
Water Authoritys Managing Director & Chief
Executive Officer focusing on driving growth and
execution within the Emirate of Dubai. He has an
overall experience of more than 30 years in the field
of telecommunication, energy and water.

Mr. Al Tayer has led DEWA since 1991 and has been
a key contributor to its ever growing success.
Under his leadership Dewa has seen exponential
growth, and succeeded in transforming DEWA into
a forward-looking, commercially minded utility with
state-of-the-art assets base and strong financial
profile, he has launched a number of key business
initiatives. Saeed has been in the forefront in
localization, bringing focus to his innovative ideas
and vision for building an empowered and fully
independent business unit.

He is the member of Government of Dubais

Executive Council, Dubais Economic Council, Dubai
Supreme Fiscal Committee, Chairman of the Dubai
Infrastructure Committee, Chairman of Empower,
Chairman of Dubai Nuclear Committee, Vice
Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy,
member of the Higher Committee of the Emirates
National Grid, Vice Chairman of Dubal Holding ,
Vice Chairman of Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA),
Chairman of the Dubai Global Energy Forum and
Chairman of Emirates Energy Award and Founder
and Chairman of WETEX the Water, Energy,
Technology and Environment Exhibition among other
representations.

Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 17

 Bill Gates Wants You to Consider These 3
as Your Engineering Fields of Focus
Go take his advice!
Bill Gates is known as a billionaire-philanthropist
despite that he is a Harvard dropout. Considered as
the worlds richest man, he co-founded one of the
most valuable companies in the world, Microsoft.
For such successes, he had earned his right to give
an opinion on things which becomes influential to the
decision of the majority.
Recently, he shared which professions he thinks are
the most promising or well-suited for graduates of
today. He posted his unsolicited advice on Twitter.
He used the words impact, happiness, and
progress, over a series of tweets, but never
money. This is what he wants engineers of this
generation to focus on or to find when looking for a
job.
And when it comes to fields of the best interest in the
future, Bill Gates said only three.
AI, energy and biosciences are promising fields
where you can make a huge impact, he said.
This was consistent in what he said in a speech
at Columbia University, mentioning that artificial
intelligence had phenomenal potential, and
anything connected with that would be an exciting
lifetime career.
18 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017
In the same speech, he added that there is a huge
growing demand in the energy industry to develop
reliable, cheap, and clean energy.
Gates also talked about developments in biotech as
moving faster than ever, making it an exciting field
in the future, with a need for innovation to combat
diseases such as cancer and obesity, and developing
vaccines.
Other than this, Gates reminded graduates to
surround themselves with people who challenge you,
teach you and push you to be your best self, and to
think of others especially the less fortunate.
That last reminder was perhaps a striking lesson,
as Gates detailed about learning about the worlds
worst inequities and described this lack of early
understanding as his one big regret.
You know more than I did when I was your age, he
wrote. You can start fighting inequity, whether down
the street or around the world, sooner.
He added he believes the world is getting better. And
that matters because if you think the world is getting
better, you want to spread the progress to more
people and places.
Dubai Science
Park Delivering
Excellence to
Dubais Science
Community
Entrepreneurs, SMEs and multinational enterprises
operating within the science sector have found
a home conducive for their operations in Dubai
Science Park (DSP), the regions first science
community that offers a vibrant platform for
businesses to innovate and progress in a truly
dynamic setting. Since its inception, the community
has grown to more than 350 companies of all
sizes in the life, energy and environmental science
sectors. With the help of companies operating
within the community, DSP is strengthening the
position of Dubai as a destination for innovation
within the science sector.

What does DSP offer?

DSP offers businesses a holistic environment that
facilitates business growth; from providing ample
office and laboratory space, a robust infrastructure
and a vibrant community for residents, DSP ensures
a supportive ecosystem for businesses to flourish
and achieve regional and international expansion.
Additionally, DSPs vibrant community creates
synergies and allows for like-minded professionals
to network and host events that promote knowledge
sharing and industry development.

Offices: DSP offers its partners state of the art

offices in a variety of sizes, giving businesses the
flexibility to choose the space that suits their needs.

Laboratories: In keeping with its vision and mission,

DSP has designed laboratory space to the highest
global standards. The core and shell spaces are
equipped with air exhaust and ventilation systems,
an acid resistance drainage, pH neutralization
system and other technical features to cater to its community.
The eco-friendly Laboratory Complex has received LEED Silver
Certification, portraying an environmentally responsible profile.

Warehouses: DSP offers warehouse space designed

specifically for storage, showroom, distribution, logistics and
light manufacturing for the science sectors. Each warehouse
encompasses a mezzanine floor for office and pantry. Grouped
into a complex of 25, DSPs warehouses span an area of
approximately 5,000 sq. ft. each and adhere to the highest
industry standards. They provide business partners with a
convenient and secure facility to conduct their business.
Due to high demand, DSP has recently broken ground for
developing Phase 2 of its warehouses offering.

Business Centre: Accommodating for the communitys

small and medium-size companies, DSP features a dedicated
Business Centre located, specifically equipped for the needs
of start-up businesses with contemporary, furnished offices
and open-space workstations.

Through DSPs Business Centre, you can efficiently set up

business operations in a helpful and professional environment.
The Business Centre delivers total office solutions; IT and
telecom features, 24-hour security, fully furnished and
equipped facilities, fast-track visa processing and much more.

Success stories from DSP

Greenza
Soil health is fundamental to profitable and sustainable
agriculture. Vital organic matter and nutrients are often
destroyed, depleted, or otherwise lost from the soil through
overuse of fertilizers, erosion, and runoff as a consequence of
unsustainable farming practices.

From DSP, Greenza has developed Bontera Microbial, a soil

enhancer that is a scientifically formulated proprietary cocktail
of more than 30 microbes carefully selected for their ability to
rehabilitate the soil, making it healthier and more productive.
Bontera is completely organic-based and environmentally
friendly and is highly compatible with sustainable, organic
farming practices. The liquid formula is easily administered
through an irrigation or drip system.

Key benefits
- Enhanced soil and plant health
- Increased soil nutrient content and enhanced
availability of nutrients
- Reduced need for chemical fertilizers
 - Faster seed germination
- Improved plant resistance to stresses
- Higher yield and better quality produce
Amerispec Diagnostics
Amerispec Diagnostics was established in
November 2015 with the vision of being the
leading reference laboratory in the GCC and
the Middle East in localising cutting edge
clinical diagnostic technologies based on
mass spectrometry (MS) and next generation
sequencing (NGS), in the United Arab Emirates,
and to be the premier local partner for the
innovation and advancement in clinical and
pharmaceutical research in the region. MS is
an analytical technique used to determine the
elemental composition of samples, quantifying
the mass of particles and molecules, and
regarded today to be the analytical tool of the
highest possible accuracy for measurement and
sensitivities to discern between close structure
chemical species, where conventional clinical
diagnostics assays using immunoassays and
photometry will not be able to account for.
The Next Generation Sequencing massively
parallel or deep sequencing are related terms
22 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017
that describe a DNA sequencing technology
which has revolutionised genomic research.
Using NGS an entire human genome can be
sequenced within a single day.
In early 2016, a state-of-the art facility was set
up at Dubai Science Park to provide locally
these specialised clinical services in the United
Arab Emirates to best support healthcare
providers in the Gulf region, and the Middle
East region. With this investment, Amerispec
was able to provide local access to services
that were sent out of the country to Europe and
the United States of America, and took 7 to 10
days for the results to return back to the treating
physician. By localising these tests at Dubai
Science Park, it could substantially reduce the
results Turn Around Time for results to doctors
to same day results, hence enhancing their
medical decisions, and thus improving patient
outcomes.
Currently, Amerispec is partnering with
Thermo Fisher Scientific in clinical research
collaboration agreement to collaboratively
develop novel clinical research application. Also,
it provides in country testing for many of the
crucial diagnostic assays such as monitoring
for Immunosuppressant Drug Monitoring for
transplant receivers, the crucial and closely
related Vitamins such as 25-OH Vitamin D2&D3
to help in modifying cancer risk and prevent
bone disease, Steroid Hormones panel for
women fertility treatment, and Antiepileptic
Drug Monitoring which helps in adjusting
dosage and treatment of all different types of
chronic neurological ailments, as panel of tests
to Hospitals, Polyclinics, and local laboratories.
Today, Amerispec is working on introducing
neonatal screening panels for up to 70 newborn
errors that never been offered before in the
Middle East, ensuring the health and prosperity
for future generations to come.
This was accomplished by using the latest
Class 1 medical devices and technologies
acquired from Thermo Fisher Scientific, the
leading company in innovation into life science
and research. Amerispecs team of the finest
scientists from the US to run the laboratory
adhers to the highest level of quality mandated
by Collage of American Pathologist (CAP) to
ensure being in compliance with the standard
measures of quality in the USA, while pursuing
national and international lab accreditation
such ISO 15189 offered by Dubai Accreditation
Services (DAC), and enrolling and using
proficiency testing materials of the Collage
of American Pathologist (CAP). Amerispec is
now on track for CAP accreditation of high
complexity testing laboratory.
Future of DSP
DSP is evolving as a hub where more success
stories can originate for the benefit of society.
Expansion and growth are top on the agenda
while also working to promote pharmaceutical
production in Dubai. On the immediate horizon
for DSP is the launch of its Headquarters (DSP
HQ) two landmark buildings that offer brand
new business space to companies invested
in scientific, environmental or pharmaceutical
pursuits. The twin towers will create a relaxing
and convenient environment for professionals
and residents alike by providing numerous
retail/service outlets and restaurants along with
beautifully landscaped common areas.
For more information about Dubai Science Park,
please visit the website: http://www.dsp.ae
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 23
 Minister of Climate Change and
Environment Releasing 30,000 Fish in
Marine Protected Areas in Dibba, Fujairah
His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi,
Minister of Climate Change and Environment,
is releasing several big sized (150 grams)
Rhabdosargus sarba (Qabit) and finned black
seabream (Shaam) fish in the waters of marine
protected areas in Dibba, Fujairah.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

is collaborating with Fish Farm to release 30,000
fish marine protected areas in each emirate,
starting in Fujairah, with the aim of promoting the
sustainability of fish stock for future generations.

The move comes within the framework of the

Year of Giving initiative launched by the UAE
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed
Al Nahyan, and in line with the directives of His
Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

has worked with municipalities and environmental
bodies to coordinate the release of the fish in Ras
Al Khor, Umm Al Quwain, Jebel Ali Marine Park in
Dubai, Al Qurum Park in Abu Dhabi, Bird Island
in Fujairah, Al Rams Creek in Ras Al Khaimah, Al
Zorah Natural Reserve in Ajman and in Sharjah.

The Ministry is determined to ensure the

sustainability of the UAEs living marine resources
and to support the food security in the country
through launching various initiatives, including
the identification of commercial fish species that
are being exploited, as well as to develop the
local fish species breeding program and provide
technical services and advice to local fish farms.

24 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017

Claudio Palmieri
 Commercial Viability Of Battery
Based Energy Storage Supported
Solar Desalination
Solar Desalination has always been a topic of
great interest in the GCC, a region which lacks
sufficient natural water resources and is largely
dependent on desalinated water to provide for
its citizens. Regional utilities and Government
agencies have been testing various solar
desalination concepts for some time and PV Solar
powered Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination
has been found well suited for small to mid-
scale applications at remote locations without
grid connection. However, the dependence of
PV Solar powered RO desalination plants on
sunlight for operation drastically reduces water
production and plant utilization factors which in
turn negatively impacts Leveraged Cost of Water
(LCoW) or water production cost. Battery based
energy storage systems offer a technical solution
which would allow solar desalination plant
owners to improve utilization factors and increase
water production of Solar Desalination plants.
The question however is, can energy storage
offer a commercially viable solution, improve
the Utilization Factor for PV powered solar
desalination plants and reduce its LCoW?
The following is based on a feasibility study for a
2,000 m3/day Solar Desalination Plant currently
under development in a North African Country
located on the Mediterranean coast. In this case
a 2,000 m3/day Solar Desalination plant without
energy storage can achieve an annual Utilization
Factor of around 40% which would result in an
average daily water production of 800 m3/day
or around 292,000 m3/year. The study looked at
ways to improve the Utilization Factor up to 75%
(average of 1,500 m3/day or close to 550,000 m3/
year) and its impacts LCoW and CAPEX.
For a better understanding a number of key
parameters have been defined as followed:
Specific Energy Demand (kWh/m3) The
Specific Energy Demand defines the required
energy in kWh to desalinate 1 m3 of water. The
Specific Energy Demand is depending on the
salinity of the feedwater and the energy efficiency
of the desalination technology.
Utilization Factor (%) The Utilization Factor
is defining how much of the (annual) design
desalination capacity of 730,000 m3 (or how many
of the annually available full load operating hours)
have been utilized.
LCoW (US$) The Leveraged Cost of Water
formula used for this study considers the
complete plant CAPEX, OPEX and the estimated
water production over 20 years but no project
development or finance cost.
CAPEX (US$) The CAPEX includes costs
required to deliver a turnkey PV Solar powered
RO Desalination Plant including Energy Storage
and Solar System.
OPEX (US$) The OPEX includes all costs
required to Operate and Maintain a PV Solar
powered RO Desalination Plant including battery
replacement.
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 27
 To secure realistic results a model has been Since all investment projects are CAPEX
created which considers all site and technology sensitive it is worth to study the impact of
specific factors. All graphs contained in this the additional cost required to increase the
study have been generated using site specific Utilization Factor on the Leveraged Cost of Water
data from the 2,000 m3/day solar desalination (LCoW). As can be seen in Graph 3, an increase
project mentioned above. in Utilization Factor results in an increased
LCoW or US$/m3 of treated water for every case
While drawing up the first design concept for where the Specific Energy Demand exceeds 2
the 2,000 m3/day solar desalination plant it kWh/m3. In this case (energy intense Seawater
became clear that additional PV Solar and Desalination) and at todays prices are for PV
Energy Storage System cost required to achieve Solar and Energy Storage Systems it is more
higher Utilization Factors had a disproportionate cost effective to double the RO installed capacity
impact on CAPEX. As can be seen in the two and to accept the low Utilization Factor even if
graphs below. This is mainly due to the increase the frequent starts and stops have a negative
in required Energy Storage Capacity. impact on membrane lifetime and OPEX.

Note: The design study is based on standard But it is also worth highlighting that it is possible
Lithium Ion technology and the respective to use Energy Storage systems to increase the
system efficiency, degradation and available Utilization Factor while maintaining or reducing
state of charge data have been factored into the respective LCoW as can be seen in Graph
the model. It is further worth noting that the PV 3 (Specific Energy Demand of 1.5 kWh/m3 and
design Capacity outlined in Graph 1 is only valid below) and Graph 4 (Specific Energy Demand of
in relation with the site specific solar irradiation 2 kWh/m3 and below). The commercial viability
data. of Battery based Energy Storage to improve
the Utilization Factors of Solar Desalination
PV System Design Capacity
Plants is mainly depending on Energy Storage
PV System Capacity
kWp
vs.
System cost and the Specific Energy Demand
2000

1800
(Desalination Plant Energy Efficiency).
1600

1400

1200
LCoW
1000
US$/m3 Based on current PV and ES Market Prices
800
1.6
600

400 1.4

200 1.2
0
40% 45% 50% 55% 60% 65%7 0% 75% 1

5.5 Kwh/m3 5 Kwh/m3 4.5 Kwh/m3 4 Kwh/m3 3.5 Kwh/m3 0.8

3 Kwh/m3 2.5 Kwh/m3 2 Kwh/m3 1.5 Kwh/m3 1 Kwh/m3
0.6

0.4

0.2

Graph 1 (Required PV Design Capacity) 0

40% 45% 50%5 5% 60%6 5% 70% 75%

5.5 Kwh/m3 5 Kwh/m3 4.5 Kwh/m3 4 Kwh/m3 3.5 Kwh/m3

3 Kwh/m3 2.5 Kwh/m3 2 Kwh/m3 1.5 Kwh/m3 1 Kwh/m3

ES Design Capacity Graph 3: LCoW at current PV & ES Prices

ES Design Capacity vs.
MWh
8

7
LCoW
6 US$/m3 Based on PV & ES Prices forecasted for 2018
1.6
5

4 1.4

3 1.2

2 1

1 0.8

0
0.6
40% 45% 50% 55% 60% 65%7 0% 75%

5.5 Kwh/m3 5 Kwh/m3 4.5 Kwh/m3 4 Kwh/m3 3.5 Kwh/m3 0.4

3 Kwh/m3 2.5 Kwh/m3 2 Kwh/m3 1.5 Kwh/m3 1 Kwh/m3

0.2

0
40% 45% 50%5 5% 60%6 5% 70% 75%

Graph 2 (Required Energy Storage Design Capacity) show the 5.5 Kwh/m3 5 Kwh/m3 4.5 Kwh/m3 4 Kwh/m3 3.5 Kwh/m3

required design capacity in relation with the annual Utilization 3 Kwh/m3 2.5 Kwh/m3 2 Kwh/m3 1.5 Kwh/m3 1 Kwh/m3

Factor and Specific Energy Demand.

Graph 4:LCoW at expected 2018 PV & ES Prices

28 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017

A quick and easy way to determine the It is commercially viable to use Battery based
commercial viability of using battery based Energy Storage to increase the Utilization
Energy Storage to increase the Utilization Factor of Solar Desalination Plants for low
Factor (water production) of an off-grid solar salinity e.g. brackish water desalination
desalination plant is to put the nominalized systems at todays Energy Storage and PV
CAPEX in relation with the resulting nominalized market prices.
annual water production as described in Graph
Current market price developments in the
5. An improvement in LCoW can be achieved
energy storage industry in combination with a
whenever nominalized annual water production
highly energy efficient desalination technology
is increasing faster than nominalized CAPEX. is expected to make extended Utilization
It is worth noting that the optimum LCoW which Factors for sea water desalination plants
can be achieved in the GCC is around 70 to commercially viable by 2018.
80% largely due to seasonal variations in solar
irradiation. Energy Efficiency has value! For the reference
project at todays market prices a reduction
in Specific Energy Demand by 1 kWh/m3 has
a CAPEX value 0.1 to 1 Million US$ depending
Nominalized
Nominalized
3.000

2.500
on Utilization Factor and Feedwater Salinity.
2.000

1.500

1.000

0.500

0.000
40% 45% 50% 55% 60% 65%7 0% 75%

CAPEX 1kWh/m3 Future CAPEX 5kWh/m3 Future CAPEX 1kWh/m3 Present CAPEX 5kWh/m3 Present

Graph 5: CAPEX vs. Annual Water Production

Conclusion:

Energy Storage System cost and Specific

Energy Demand (Desalination Plant Efficiency)
are the most important factors which
determine the Commercial Viability of
Battery based Energy Storage supported Example of highly energy efficient Trevi Systems
FO-PROE (RO) desalination Skid
Solar Desalination.

Claudio Palmieri
Claudio has worked in commissioning, engineering, project management, service,
sales, project development and business development for power, renewable energy
and Oil & Gas for companies like ABB, MTU and Kharafi National which included a
position on the board of directors of a Solar PV EPC company registered at Masdar,
Abu Dhabi. He has more than 20 years Middle East and Energy Industry experience.

Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 29

 Solar Power to Ensure A Gensets Start-up and
Function at Sites With No Mains Available
An Economic and Effective Solution in Case of no Mains available
Although it may be difficult to imagine sites
without any electric Mains network, the reality is
that there are vast areas on our earth where there
is no Electric Mains supply.
BTS telecom towers installed in remote areas,
villages in developing countries or that are
isolated during periods of the year because of
climatic conditions, mines and quarries, civil
works and a lot of other situations are examples
of where gensets are the only alternative to
Mains, nowadays often in combination with
renewable sources of energy as wind and solar
power. In all these situations, gensets equipped
with the adequate accessories and options are
into an optimal solution as they may be remote
controlled and managed even if they are situated
thousands of kilometres away.
30 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017
What kind of accessories and equipment can
guarantee proper function and security of a
genset?
A genset must be prepared to start a nd work,
no matter what its application or use is. With
this in mind, the battery, among other factors,
has a very important role, as it is responsible for
starting the engine o
f the generator set to make
it work. The battery is also needed to power
the genset controller and other equipment like
remote control modems or gateways.
What is responsible for keeping the gensets
batteries sufficiently charged to ensure the
correct start-up of the engine? This task is
performed by the battery charger.
So that these devices can work as intended, they
must be connected to or powered byapower
source, usually t he mains.
When this option is not available, there is a very
economical and effective solution: The use of
solar panels to power the chargers that will give
the batteries enough charge to ensure that there
are no start-up failures.
Gensets that are placed on far away sites
are often remote controlled and supervised
to minimise the costs for operation and
maintenance as well as ensure a good function
when needed and also the security of the genset
installation against theft, damage, fires etc.
This makes it necessary to have the genset
controller powered up all the time to handle the
remote control orders as well as receive the
information from extra sensors and senders
about the status of the genset, fuel and other
liquid levels etc. The extra equipment mounted
will be powered from the battery so it has to
be recharged continuously to ensure its ready
to start the genset when a starting order is
received.
The Inmesol gensets are equipped with many
inputs for different sensors and senders as well
as output ports as a standard and there are a
Batteries that start the gensets engine
great number of different expansion modules
that offer nearly limitless possibilities to remotely
manage and monitor the genset itself and related
equipment and installations.
Examples of what can be done by remote
control:
Checking of all Genset parameters as; Status
(Stopped, Running with load, Tripped for alarm
etc.) Reading of values like; Voltage, Current,
Frequency, kW, Oil pressure and Engine
temperature. Levels like Fuel level, Engine oil
level and Coolant level. Orders like Start, Stop,
Load On and Off and Reset of alarms. Fuel
supply systems with several tanks where the fuel
consumption can be controlled and fuel levels
in the tanks can be checked and fuel being
pumped from one tank to another.
Smoke and fire detectors, as well as detectors of
movement and intrusions, can be connected. An
access can be given to suppliers of fuel as well.
All of this without having to be at the site save a
lot of costs for maintenance and service. It also
increases the efficiency of operation as faulty
conditions can be detected before they have
caused a major damage. Fuel and service can
be supplied and done just in time and with a
minimum of down time.
Charger responsible for keeping batteries charged
Rental range of gensets with solar panels
 New Melbourne-Based Ag-Tech Company,
Applant, is Releasing The First Manual Vertical
Farming Unit, aTree
Vertical farming is a fairly new concept. Once
limited to rocket scientists at NASA, vertical
farming is a technique of growing plants in
stacks of vertical planes in water, without soil.
Urban farmers have been using vertical farming
technologies for years now to grow food in
any season. Thanks to its predictable delivery
of water and nutrients, the plants can thrive in
optimum conditions. Recently, the technique
has become popular for home-growers with the
availability of affordable light sources. Applant,
a new Melbourne-based ag-tech company, is
set to release the first manual vertical farming
unit, aTree, to allow people to grow fruits and
vegetables in the comfort of their own homes,
workplace or any relatively confined areas.
By 2050, the UN estimates the world population
to be 9.7 billion. The world will need to produce at
least 50-70% more food to feed the population.
32 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017
Majority of land that can be used for farming is
already used for farming. As there is little space
left to farm, focus needs to be put on higher
yields.
Applant aims to help rectify this problem by
teaching communities to grow at home as vertical
farming maximises space for those living in cities.
Vertical farming allows for growing plants with
higher yields and faster growth rates.
aTree grows plants using aeroponics, a root-
misting system, to circulate water throughout the
system. The roots of the crops are sprayed with
a mist of nutrient-enriched water. The foot pump
at the base of the unit needs only to be pumped
1-2 minutes per day for the water to be pumped
to the top, where it then falls down through the
root chamber. The root chamber delivers the
optimum amount of water to the plants and
is then recycled; therefore, vertical farming
technologies, such as aTree, use 95% less
water than field farms. As opposed to traditional
farming, aTree allows for significant water
conservation, which eases strain on drought-
threatened regions.
As long as aTree is exposed to light, it can be
kept indoors or outdoors whether in a sunny
area or with LED lights. The light-emitting diodes
(LEDs) emit the precise spectra of light for the
plants photosynthesis; e.g. with a larger blue
or red component. The exact light wavelength
is optimum for the plants growth, such as
kale, pumpkins and lettuce. LED lights are also
energy efficient - approximately 70% of energy
expenditure would be saved if LED lights were to
be used rather than filament bulbs.
Aeroponic-growing also means no use of
pesticides, fungicides or herbicides as theres
no soil. There is also no travel time required with
transportation of produce. The nutrients are
retained inside the plants and are not lost during
packaging and transportation methods. The
results are plants that can be picked and eaten
straightaway - enriched with nutrients - with
produce that is fresh and tastier.
As more people are projected to be living in
urbanised areas, vertical farming technologies
like aTree is an effective and low-maintenance
solution to grow fruits and vegetables. While
there have been vertical farms on a large scale,
aTree is the first to be placed at the convenience
of confined spaces as a reliable, personal food
supply. Its a sustainable practice that can help
solve the problem of feeding the population in
the future. Applant is committed to educating
new growers on growing at home.
To help support, Applant is creating a Kickstarter
campaign that will commence from July to
August 2017 to launch aTree into the market.
www.applant.com.au
 GOING THE EXTRA MILE.
Batteries included
Hilti is a global leader in providing cutting-edge products, systems and services to professionals in
the construction and energy sectors. From design to demolition, Hilti supports customers with expert
technical advice, reliable products, prompt delivery and outstanding service. The product range covers
drilling and demolition, direct fastening, diamond and anchoring systems, firestop and foam systems,
installation, measuring and screw fastening systems, as well as cutting and sanding systems. As a
result of this, Hiltis portfolio helps construction professionals through every step of the construction
journey. A direct-selling company, Hilti generates over 200,000 customer interactions per day, providing
it with superior insight into company and market demands. Hilti Emirates LLC and Hilti Middle East FZE
has been operating in the UAE since 1991. Today, Hilti Emirates has more than 200 employees, its own
warehousing facility and a state-of-the-art repair center. Thomas Stumpp is Head of Market Region
Middle East Turkey & Africa; while Mutaz Almaani is Head of Sub Region Gulf.

For more information, please call Hilti Emirates at 800-Hilti (44584) or visit www.hilti.ae.

Konstantin Fedin (previous PT&A Product

Manager) discusses how he turned his passion
for battery technology into a year long project.
The project of operating a car using Hilti batteries
started in July 2016, leading up to the grand reveal
during the Marketing Wave in Dubai on April
2017. Konstantin shares his motivation behind the
project, the challenges he faced during his journey,
and the burning passion he has for innovation.
Such dedication proves that with patience; great
results come to life.

What was your biggest motive to take on this

project?

It was clear from the beginning that the

implementation of the project will be challenging
and will require a lot of extra time, and effort
beyond the current work scope. However, my
passion for innovations, battery technologies
and cars all together drove me forward. Being
responsible for cordless tools in SR Gulf and SR
NEEA as a product manager, I wanted to show
everyone that Hilti batteries are capable of moving
something much bigger than just construction
power tools. And I had no doubts that the finest
quality of Hilti batteries together with some
mechanical engineering intelligence will allow Konstantin Fedin started working on his project since July
me to reach success at the end. I love battling 2016. His motivation, determination, and persistence came
together to power an Electro car using Hilti batteries.
challenges, and this idea just added more fuel to
the fire.

34 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017

How long did the project take to complete,
and what did you enjoy most about it?
I started this project in July of 2016. It was a
long journey, full of unexpected surprises and
hidden challenges, and it took me nearly 9
months to finally run the first Hilti Electro car
and introduce it to all of my colleagues during
the Marketing wave which took place in March
2017. Creating something totally new and
completely out of the box - not construction
related, using the latest technologies which
Hilti owns is a big proud achievement and
exceptional personal motivation.
What was your biggest challenge during the
process?
The biggest challenge was that the whole
project was full of new tasks and questions
which I have never faced before. For instance,
many times when I was facing design
challenges, I was trying to get consultancy and
advice from professionals in the automobile
and electrical engineering industries. And I
often got the answer: Its not possible, dont
even waste your time; but after some weeks
of internal brainstorming we were able to find
a solution and we were able to overcome the
next challenge. The conclusion is Nothing is
impossible.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to
my friend and ex-colleague Petro Zemlianskyi
for his continuous support and great creative
ideas during the project implementation.
In brief, how would you describe our Hilti
batteries What sets us apart?
There is no brand on the market that can match
the level of the Hilti products and services,
and our batteries are no exception. Hilti has a
unique strength that differentiates us from our
competitors, it is our direct relations with the
customers. Therefore, Hilti creates the products
based on customers feedback that makes them
a perfect fit for the hardest construction site
conditions. The features of the Hilti batteries are
unique and relevant to the construction industry,
including the shock absorption internal design
of the housing that is made of fiberglass with
extreme external impact resistance; fully sealed
electronics for dust and moisture protection,
double tapped contacts with independent cell
power control managed by CPC technology
and much more. This is what makes the Hilti
batteries unique with unmatched performance
on the market. This is what drives every
employee in our company to further create the
difference every day! And I am proud to be part
of such a team!
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 35
UAE Delegation Marks Successful Participation at World
Scientific and Engineering Congress (WSEC 2017)
A UAE delegation led by His Excellency Dr Thani
bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change
and Environment, marked a successful attendance
at the World Scientific and Engineering Congress
(WSEC 2017) from June19-20, 2017 convened
at Astana EXPO 2017 Congress Center - Astana,
Republic of Kazakhstan.
The conference held under the theme Energy of
the Future: innovative scenarios and methods of
their implementation, aimed to bring together
world pioneers in energy, to engage in a critical
discussion on the future low carbon energy
systems and the role of sustainable and efficient
technologies in advancing the Sustainable
Development Goals and climate change
objectives.
While delivering the UAEs message at the
conference, His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al
Zeyoudi said: Renewable energy is at the heart
of the UAEs sustainable energy transformation
strategy, with the sector witnessing remarkable
growth and performance because of its innovative
and cost-effective solutions that can meet the
growing demand, especially in remote areas.
His Excellency added: The World Scientific
and Engineering Congress is a great platform to
share our experiences and further expand our
global efforts in fostering dialogue and enhancing
cooperation in sustainable energy. The UAE is
a key partner of the Republic of Kazakhstan in
Astana EXPO 2017, and we are proud to host one
of the largest pavilions at the exhibition.
He further said: Renewable energy is at the center
of our sustainable energy transition, and has been
witnessing a remarkable growth outperforming
conventional power, offering cost-effective
solutions that can meet our growing energy needs
and providing much-needed energy access to
remote communities.
He explained: The UAE has been a pioneer in
the global renewable energy landscape over the
last decade, through implementing large-scale
domestic and international projects, hosting the
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
in our capital city - Abu Dhabi, and convening
international dialogues such as the annual World
Future Energy Summit.
He added: Most recently, in May 2017, the UAE
started construction of the largest independent
solar power project in the world, in Abu Dhabi.
The Noor Abu Dhabi with a capacity of 1,177
MW. The plant not only sets an unprecedented
world record with its size, but also shattered global
energy prices with the lowest solar energy price of
US cents 2.42 per KWh.
Our National Energy Strategy 2050, sets a target
of a 50% clean energy share in the total energy
mix by 2050, of which 44% will come from
renewables. The National Climate Change Plan
2050 that was announced just last week, will firmly
set the advancement of clean energy and energy
efficiency as our priority. The UAE has dedicated
billions of dirhams in public funds to clean energy
research and projects, as we recognize that
fostering innovation is key to develop an efficient
sustainable energy system to facilitate economic
and social development, Al Zeyoudi explained.
Concluding the speech, Dr Thani bin Ahmed
Al Zaidi, reiterated the UAEs commitment to
maintaining its leadership position in spreading
renewable energy sources and said: In 2020,
the UAE will host EXPO 2020 Dubai under
three themes Opportunity, Sustainability and
Mobility, with the aim of connecting minds and
creating the future. It will feature renewable energy
prominently through its sustainability theme, and
the site of the EXPO will be powered 50% from
renewable energy sources including the iconic
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 37
Another Record Breaking Year
for Renewable Energy
REN21 published its Renewables 2017
Global Status Report (GSR), the most
comprehensive annual overview of the state
of renewable energy.
Additions in installed renewable power
capacity set new records in 2016, with 161
gigawatts (GW) installed, increasing total
global capacity by almost 9% over 2015,
to nearly 2,017 GW. Solar PV accounted for
around 47% of the capacity added, followed
by wind power at 34% and hydropower at
15.5%.
Renewables are becoming the least cost
option. Recent deals in Denmark, Egypt,
India, Mexico, Peru and the United Arab
Emirates saw renewable electricity being
delivered at USD 0.05 per kilowatt-hour or
less. This is well below equivalent costs for
fossil fuel and nuclear generating capacity
in each of these countries. Winners of
two recent auctions for offshore wind in
Germany have done so relying only on the
wholesale price of power without the need
for government support, demonstrating that
renewables can be the least cost option.
The inherent need for baseload is a myth.
Integrating large shares of variable renewable
generation can be done without fossil
fuel and nuclear baseload with sufficient
flexibility in the power system through
grid interconnections, sector coupling and
enabling technologies such as ICT, storage
systems electric vehicles and heat pumps.
This sort of flexibility not only balances
variable generation, it also optimizes the
system and reduces generation costs overall
It comes as no surprise, therefore that the
number of countries successfully managing
peaks approaching or exceeding 100%
electricity generation from renewable sources
are on the rise. In 2016, Denmark and
Germany, for example, successfully managed
peaks of renewables electricity of 140% and
86.3%, respectively.
Other positive trends include:
Innovations and breakthroughs in storage
technology will increasingly provide additional
flexibility to the power system. In 2016,
approximately 0.8 GW of new advanced
energy storage capacity became operational,
bringing the year-end total to an estimated
6.4 GW.
Markets for mini-grids and stand-alone
systems are evolving rapidly and Pay-As-
You-Go (PAYG) business models, supported
by mobile technology, are exploding. In
2012, investments in PAYG solar companies
amounted to only USD 3 million; by 2016 that
figure had risen to USD 223 million (up from
USD 158 million in 2015).
Arthouros Zervos, Chair of REN21, said
The world is adding more renewable power
capacity each year than it adds in new
capacity from all fossil fuels combined.
One of the most important findings of
this years GSR, is that holistic, systemic
approaches are key and should become
the rule rather than the exception. As the
share of renewables grows we will need
investment in infrastructure as well as a
comprehensive set of tools: integrated and
interconnected transmission and distribution
networks, measures to balance supply and
demand, sector coupling (for example the
integration of power and transport networks);
and deployment of a wide range of enabling
technologies.
But the energy transition is not happening
fast enough to achieve the goals of the Paris
Agreement.
Investments are down. Although global investment in new
renewable power and fuel capacity was roughly double
that in fossil fuels, investments in new renewable energy
installations were down 23% compared to 2015. Among
developing and emerging market countries, renewable
energy investment fell 30%, to USD 116.6 billion, while
that of developed countries fell 14% to USD 125 billion.
Investment continues to be heavily focused on wind and
solar PV, however all renewable energy technologies need
to be deployed in order to keep global warming well below
2C.

Transport, heating and cooling sectors continue to lag

behind the power sector. The deployment of renewable
technologies in the heating and cooling sector remains a
challenge in light of the unique and distributed nature of
this market. Renewables-based decarbonisation of the
transport sector is not yet being seriously considered, or
seen as a priority. Despite a significant expansion in the
sales of electric vehicles, primarily due to the declining
cost of battery technology, much more needs to be done
to ensure sufficient infrastructure is in place and that they
are powered by renewable electricity. While the shipping
and aviation sectors present the greatest challenges,
government policies or commercial disruption have not
sufficiently stimulated the development of solutions.

Fossil fuel subsidies continue to impede progress.

Globally, subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear power
continue to dramatically exceed those for renewable
technologies. By the end of 2016 more than 50 countries
had committed to phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, and
some reforms have occurred, but not enough. In 2014
the ratio of fossil fuel subsidies to renewable energy
subsidies was 4:1. For every USD 1 spent on renewables,
governments spent USD 4 perpetuating our dependence
on fossil fuels.

Christine Lins, Executive Secretary of REN21, explains:

The world is in a race against time. The single most
important thing we could do to reduce CO2 emissions
quickly and cost-effectively, is phase-out coal and speed
up investments in energy efficiency and renewables. When
China announced in January that it was cancelling more
than 100 coal plants currently in development, they set an
example for governments everywhere: change happens
quickly when governments act by establishing clear,
long-term policy and financial signals and incentives.

ABB: Partners For A Clean Future
Pioneering technology leader helps bring renewable power to the UAE
The UAE has the worlds seventh largest
reserves of oil and gas, and even so, is planning
for a future beyond oil. The recently announced
UAE 2050 strategy adopts 50% of the sources
of power generation as green sources. This
new energy strategy is set to save up to
AED700 billion by 2050, according to Suhail bin
Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of
Energy.
The country is investing in some of the worlds
largest solar power plants, and is at the forefront
of innovation in technologies such as high-
efficiency solar-powered desalination.
As the hosts of the International Renewable
Energy Agency, the UAE is promoting best
practice in policy, technology and financing of
renewable energy around the world.
40 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017
Photo courtesy of ABB
A prominent and iconic project taking shape
to fulfill the UAEs renewable vision is the
Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai.
The MBR Solar Park is the largest single-site
solar park in the world based on the IPP model,
and is instrumental to the Dubai Clean Energy
Strategy 2050. The solar parks production
capacity will reach 5,000 MW by 2030 with
investments totaling Dh50 billion ($13.6 billion).
It will eventually save over 6.5 million tons of
carbon emissions every year, supporting Dubais
objectives to promote its sustainable goals.
ABB has successfully energized a major
substation that will help evacuate power from
the Solar Park. The 400/132 kilovolt (kV) gas-
insulated switchgear (GIS) substation has been
built for Dubai Electricity & Water Authority
(DEWA), to connect the second phase of the

MBR Solar Park and integrate 200 megawatts
(MW) of electricity to the transmission grid. The
utility scale solar photovoltaic plant, which covers
4.5 square kilometers, will produce enough
electricity to serve more than 130,000 people.
ABB shares DEWAs vision to build a future thats
smart, clean and sustainable. The company
spends about $1.5 billion annually on research
and development to ensure that the technology
and its expertise remain at the forefront.
The increasing demand for power sources that
emit less carbon and are more sustainable
is driving utility-scale solar power generation
growth at an unprecedented rate. However, the
electrical grid was designed to deliver a planned
and stable supply of power from centrally
located power sources, via the transmission and
distribution lines, to end users.
ABB engineers plan and constantly recalibrate
the grid to ensure that power is available where
it is needed at the precise moment it is needed.
Adding energy sources that are variable,
Photo courtesy of ABB
intermittent and distributed throughout the
transmission and distribution network requires
significant additional control and precision to
make sure demand and supply are aligned.
At ABBs Al Quoz facility, a 315 KW solar power
plant has been installed. The energy produced at
the plant supplies ABB offices with electricity and
transfers surplus energy into DEWAs network.
This supports the Shams Dubai initiative, which
was launched by DEWA and allows customers
to install photovoltaic panels on their rooftops
to generate electricity from solar power, and
connect the systems to DEWAs grid, creating,
producing and using energy.
We are happy to hear that Dubai is installing 100
electric vehicle charging stations across the city
and also building a new DEWA headquarters,
which promises to be an energy efficient
prototype for smart buildings.
We, at ABB, share your vision to build a future
thats smart, clean and sustainable. We are proud
to partner and deliver to some of the largest
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 41

solar projects across the world, said Mostafa
AlGuezeri, Managing Director, ABB, UAE and
Gulf Countries.
Supporting Dubais vision of building a world-
class smart city, the Sustainable City is
becoming the first fully integrated community
powered completely by solar energy. To help
achieve this milestone, the development will
rely on 400 ABB string inverters to harness the
power of the sun for the residents.
Conceived and built by Dubai-based Diamond
Developers, the Sustainable City is the new
home to some 2,000 people in an area of nearly
500,000 square meters. When at full capacity,
it will eventually generate 10 megawatt-peak
(MWp) of power from solar panels on private and
public buildings within the city. As well as solar
powered homes, the Sustainable City features
solar powered chargers for electric cars; a hotel
powered 100 percent by solar energy and the
Diamond Innovation Centre, the first educational
institute to use net zero energy over its lifetime.
Working closely with the developers to design
42 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017
Photo courtesy of ABB
the solar power system for the villas, ABB
supplied a string inverter demonstration unit at
the start of the project to prove it could cope
with the high outdoor temperatures experienced
in Dubai.
Models supplied under the contract were the
PVI 5000, PVI 12.5, TRIO 7.5 and TRIO 8.5. ABB
also supplied inverters for a 1.4 megawatt (MW)
parking lot solar roof project. This will charge
the electric cars, which will only power vehicles
allowed within the city limits.
Iconic renewable projects
ABB has been established in the Middle
East since 1926 and has the honor of being
associated with landmark projects like the Burj
Khalifa, Yas Viceroy , Dubai Metro to name a
few; ABB has been playing a vital role in bringing
clean power across the globe for over 100 years.
Some recent projects for the company include
powering the worlds largest floating solar
photovoltaic test bed in Singapore.
Land scarcity has severely limited Singapores
 Photo courtesy of ABB
adoption of solar power. Floating panels could
be eleven percent more efficient than solar
panels placed on precious land. Pioneering
technology leader ABB is providing critical
components on a landmark one megawatt
floating solar photovoltaic test-bed. It
measures 1 hectare or 1.5 football fields. The
energy generated will be fed into the national
energy grid, providing electricity for up to 250
households.
ABB has also recently commissioned and
handed over the DolWin2 offshore wind
transmission link to the Dutch-German
transmission system operator TenneT.
DolWin2 is the third offshore wind connection
project that ABB has executed for TenneT
in Germanys North Sea, following BorWin1
and DolWin1. The high voltage direct current
(HVDC) link connects offshore wind farms to the
mainland grid, and has the capacity to supply
Photo courtesy of ABB
Photo courtesy of ABB
more than a million households with renewable
energy.
DolWin2 supports Germanys Energiewende
roadmap, which aims to generate more than 6.5
gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power by 2020,
and 15 GW by 2030.
As a pioneering technology leader in
electrification products, robotics and motion,
industrial automation and power grids,
ABB today is writing the future of industrial
digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth
Industrial Revolutions, adds AlGuezeri. We are
proud of our projects across the globe and in the
region and are committed to continue supporting
utility providers like DEWA in bringing world
class technology to smart cities like Dubai, he
said.
ABB operates in more than 100 countries with
about 132,000 employees.
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 43
 Will PAYG Be The
Next Leapfrog That
Disrupts Traditional
Economies?
When Mobile Money had its breakthrough in East Africa
some five years ago it was seen as a regional answer to
an existing deficit. A second-best solution to the lack of
traditional banking. This view has changed dramatically.
Mobile Banking is now clearly a disruptive technology
that will change the classical consumer banking sector
in countries that have a traditionally developed banking
Stefan Zelazny sector. New, customer-centric and mobile first banks
Chief Information Officer become popular in Europe and the US. Alipay is going to
Mobisol be the most popular consumer payment system in China
and on the brink to spread out into the world. Traditional

44 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017

banks have more and more problems competing
with these challengers.
The Mobile Money example shows that
technologies and processes we have known
for years and thought to be immutable can be
disrupted within a very short period of time. The
question that arises here is: what will be the
next leapfrog technology that will be developed
in Africa, succeeds there and then disrupts the
traditional economies?
Lets have a look at Pay As You Go (PAYG). This
technology allows the automated enabling and
disabling of use cases depending on repayment
status for financed products. The biggest
representation of this technology is the off grid
solar sector in East Africa. One million PAYG
enabled solar products have been sold in 2016
alone. The yearly growth rates are tremendous.
The technology was introduced in East Africa
around 2010 and has proven to be an effective
method to keep down operational costs of
collecting repayments from customers in rural
and remote areas. Compared to the traditional
brick and mortar Micro-Finance Institutions
approach, the costs of financial operations went
down dramatically. This allowed the distributors
of PAYG enabled solar products to reach more
and more people with low incomes. Right now,
the technology is predicted to be the silver
bullet for solar home system distribution
(http://hystra.com/a2e).
But what is PAYG really about? In a nutshell -
it leapfrogs the missing trust that is normally
created through the reliability of a legal system.
In traditional economies, trust between business
partners is artificially created through the
governmental guarantee of a legal system. If your
business counterpart does not pay its bill - you
go to court. This works well and allows - even
across borders - the modern economies to work
at all.
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 45
In rural sub-Saharan Africa, the legal system is
not capable enough to provide the functionality
described above. Business partners cannot
trust each other on this base. This is the point
where PAYG kicks in. Disabling and enabling the
use of a financed consumer good increases the
likeliness of repayment enormously.
loan as response to that competitive edge? Will
your car stop working if you stop paying your
monthly leasing fees? Will your smart home lock
its door when you are late on your mortgage?
Where is the difference to your utility that stops
delivering electricity or gas if you dont pay the
bills before taking legal actions?

It allows business by technology in areas PAYG technology is designed to work

where legal enforcement is hardly possible.
Introducing PAYG enables sub-Saharan African
customers to participate in the worldwide flow
of capital - it includes them financially. This is
achieved without implementing a working legal
enforcement regime or good governance rules.
But if we dont need a very expansive legal
enforcement regime - will that turn out as a
significant macro-economic competitive edge
of the developing countries compared to the
traditional economies?
automatically and on very low operating costs
- a tremendous advantage to traditional legal
actions. It can be applied to all goods that need
electronics to work - it will become harder and
harder to find goods that dont need electronics
to work properly. With the further spread of
IoT, we will have the infrastructure ready that
is needed for sophisticated PAYG technology.
Companies that are forerunners in this sector can
become market leaders not only in Africa but in
traditional economies as well.

Why should PAYG only work in areas where
the legal system is lacking capacity? It can be
a competitive advantage even in traditional
economies. Following the legal path can be very
time consuming, risky and expensive. There is
an old German saying Vor Gericht und auf hoher
See sind wir in Gottes Hand - at court and at
high seas we are in gods hands.
Will we see the application of PAYG in traditional
economies when selling high profile goods on
We have been looking at infrastructural and
social deficits too long as a problem but
not as a chance to do things more efficient,
more sustainable and just better than we
have been used to. Mobile Money, Solar off
grid electrification and PAYG - I believe these
developments will change the world as we know
it now because they are better solutions than
what the traditional economies have to offer and I
am more than curious what comes next.

As Chief Information Officer, Stefan is responsible for Mobisols general Software and IT Agenda.
He is heading Mobisols disruptive development strategy, leading the companys mission towards
providing reliable solar energy to millions of people in developing and emerging markets. Being
a trained lawyer and having set up various IT startups before joining the Berlin-based Mobisol,
Stefan combines management skills with creativity and entrepreneurial thinking. Mobisol has been
active in the decentralized solar sector since 2012 and has supplied over 80,000 households and
small businesses with high-quality solar components and DC appliances to date.
 Connecting The Dots:
For A Sustainable Emirate
Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence is a
disruptive market enabler of green economy in
the Middle East, over the past decade we have
successfully established ourselves as the only
environmental economics & finance consultant
in the region with experience in ambitious
resource efficiency projects and promoter of a
monetizable carbon assets. We play the role of
enabler for the private sector by public sector
norms, legislations, strategies and approaches.
So, what we do predominantly, is translate a
message of public engagement into business
opportunities & practices.
Established as a Private Joint Stock Company
(PJSC) shared between Dubai Electricity and
Water Authority (DEWA), Emirates National Oil
Company (ENOC), Emirates Central Cooling
Systems Corporation (EMPOWER)and D ubal,
we work in partnership with UNDP to harness
the green growth potential of Dubai and UAE.
48 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017
We are a team of 23 full-time employees working
towards achieving green goals set by Dubai, and
at the same time providing advisory on resource
efficiency, sustainability, and renewable energy
adoption. All the while spreading awareness
with our knowledge publications and capacity
building programmes for a sustainable tomorrow.
For us, sustainability is resource efficiency,
and our efforts focus on bridging the gap
and bringing together private players, the
government and the general public to make
Dubai the most sustainable city. To realise this,
we work with a number of entities in building
projects and knowledge repositories, as well as
spread awareness, to mitigate climate change
in the UAE. We believe that change from within
public and private organisations can support
sustainable development throughout the
Emirate of Dubai and the UAE. We do this by
benchmarking areas of the carbon value chain
that can be optimized through market-based
mechanismsto promote the involvement of
business in the low-carbon economy.
We develop, implement and manage GHG
emission reduction projects with a particular
focus on highly innovative Programmes of
Activities (PoAs) and deliver the generated carbon
credits to our clients with reduction obligations in
the most reliable way. Our consultancy portfolio
expands to renewable energy, green economy
and carbon abatement. We have successfully
registered a number of Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM) projects that generate credits,
which comply with the strict requirements of
international market standards. Thus, our projects
not only help to mitigate climate change, but also
support sustainable development, and promote
the transfer of innovative green technologies that
support organisations in increasing their efficiency
and offsetting carbon emissions.
Sustainability is a holistic concept, and to achieve
this, it is imperative that the general population
has a green frame of mind. So, we also strive
to put the right message through to general
public with our peacemakers. We have recently
launched a first of its kind social experiment,
which focus on understanding lifestyle habits of
the general public. The benchmark experiment
will compare and evaluate consumption patterns,
resource efficiency and waste management. The
social experiment requires consumers to provide
data on domestic waste one creates, as well as
on transportation, electricity and water. The ability
to map individual behavioural patterns is key
towards boosting efficient use of resources, and
help in reducing carbon footprint. On the other
hand, this data-centric approach is also expected
to help in building a foundation for government
policies, and drive change in the way people
utilise resources in their day-to-day life.
We are always excited about new attractive
projects in the fields of renewable energy
and energy efficiency that bring changes on
a grassroots level to build environmentally
conscious organisations and individuals. Our
team is a group of passionate individuals trying
to practice what we preach when it comes to
sustainable living. We have our weekly dose of
creativity every Sunday when we hold think-tank
 meetings with the team. Here we do not just
discuss the status of our projects, but address
strategic decisions required in specific projects
or activities where team members may require
support. Each one of us has a goal to achieve
and we support each other and our partners
meet them by providing tailor-made solutions
that help in fulfilling emission reduction targets.
Our greatest asset is making our partners
succeed with their project, activities and
strategies. This success comes from the fact
that we are the only regional think tank that
focuses on environmental economics. We
challenge the conventional to bring in best
practices, with the goal of creating a sustainable
and safer world for generations to come. And
our way of doing this is by continuing the
Pursuit of Excellence.
Resource Efficiency is the most important
part of sustainable practices, hence we
focus on emission reduction projects (ERPs),
which improves the operational efficiency to
enhance profitability. And we have successfully
50 Renewable Green Leaders July 2017
conducted ERPs for DEWA, Emirates Global
Aluminium (EGA), Emirates Transport, Du, and
Dubai Police, to name a few, to help them
achieve resource efficiency. At Dubai Carbon,
we keep challenging best practices and enable
the GCC and the MENA region to replicate and
scale success stories.
One of our successful projects that has
brought huge returns is the Green Economy
Framework for RTA, which includes investment
grade analysis, renewable projects with zero
investment from the client, and this adds a
factor of up to 20% on their operating expense.
We have also successfully conducted National
Inventory Systems (NIS) for a number of
countries in the GCC, including UAE, Oman,
Bahrain Kuwait and Iraq. Carbon emissions
are the lowest common denominator for
all resources - energy, water, supplies, raw
materials, time process, travel - and can
measure and benchmark resource efficiency at
every level. We are here to help organisations
understand how to evaluate and mitigate this.
We cater to a very niche market and intend
to focus on augmenting green economy in
Dubai. To support Dubais transition to a
sustainable and green city, we bring together
organisations through projects and partnerships
that are anchored on sustainable practices,
which improve efficiency and profitability for
all parties involved. We are the nexus between
environment and economy, and aim to keep
an active compendium of successful initiatives
and knowledge sharing, in general, for the UAE
community. Together with partners, we drive
financial instruments to facilitate green economy
penetration.
Moreover, the region is a fantastic playing field of
sustainability because a number of major players
are making sustainability a part of their scope
of operations, and renewable energy is taking
the centre stage as the major source of energy.
In the process, creating demands innovation in
the green technology sphere. Dubai, as usual,
is leading in terms of facilitating green economy
sector, with the announcement of Dubai Green
Fund, which will support individuals and
organisations to secure low-interest loans for
green projects.
All in all, sustainable green technologies have a
bright future in the GCC, with strong business
interests and sufficient resources to invest in
R&D. There is growing demand for engineering
talents from various fields in the environmental
sector, take for example, we have 9 engineers
from 6 different backgrounds.
Enhanced financial support and skill
development are imperative for the growth of
green economy.
Advice for Young Engineers
I would advise the Generation Y engineers to
create their own success, by finding a niche.
Its not so difficult to achieve success once you
have found that one thing you are passionate
about, so focus on something specific. I
remember giving advice to a young engineer
to focus on IPP legal frameworks around 10
years ago. Now he is one of the few specialised
engineers in the area in the region.
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 51
Ivano Iannelli
CEO
Dubai Carbon

Ivano is currently managing Dubai Carbon

Centre of Excellence, the Dubai-based
environmental economics think-tank in
partnership with United Nations and World
Bank. He has 20 years of experience in
development economics of which half in
the region. He currently oversees the UAEs
greenhouse gases inventory and strategies for
numerous government entities and industries,
including private sector companies.

Ivano has special expertise in:

CO2abatement strategies, management

processes, monitoring and reporting

Development economics modelling, at

micro and macro level

Environmental Finance, investment, funds,

and funding mechanism

UAE specific knowledge of energy and CO2

He holds an MBA from Coventry (UK), a
Masters degree in Development Economics
from University of Western Cape (South
Africa) and more recently a disruptive
innovation specialization from Harvard
business school.

He has been a part of this industry for the past

20 years.

OFFICE TRIVIA
We have secret
societies of Zumba,
table tennis, and FIFA
Sterling and Wilson Scales New Heights; Gets
Awarded the Worlds Largest Solar PV Plant
Sterling and Wilson, one of the dominant global
forces in the solar- PV space, has bagged Turnkey
Engineering Procurement and Construction along
with Operation & Maintenance contract for the
worlds largest single location solar PV plant in
Sweihan, Emirates of Abu Dhabi. The project will
deliver a capacity of 1177 MWp, easily surpassing
the current largest 850 MWp single location plant
in China.
With construction already underway, the
prodigious plant, which is spread over a desert
area of 7.8 sq. km, is scheduled to be fully
integrated with the grid in a record timeline of just
23 months. To top it all, the project was awarded
at the lowest ever recorded bid in the history of PV
solar.
The plant is jointly developed by Marubeni, a
Japanese integrated trading and investment
giant, along with Jinko, a global leader in
the solar industry, and Abu Dhabi Water and
Electricity Authority (ADWEA). The consortium
has successfully bid a tariff of USD 2.42 cents per
kilowatt hour, marking the lowest cost ever for
solar power. This is a positive demonstration of
the promising future of clean energy, reducing the
dominance of fossil-fuel- backed power plants.
The prestigious project will play a major role in
the Emirates of Abu Dhabi achieving its aim of
sustainability and energy diversification, through
the use of clean energy/low carbon growth in
accordance with the worlds vision of long-term
environmental stewardship.
The plant, once commissioned, would save around
7 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year, a
number that would be a national landmark. To put
it in perspective, 1177 MWp can power around
1,95,000 homes, thus contributing to the welfare of
the current as well as the future generations of the
people of the UAE.
We are fully geared and very excited to be a part
of this important milestone in the global solar
market, said Bikesh Ogra, President Renewable
Energy, Sterling and Wilson.
Owing to the favorable government policies, India
is now the 3rd largest market for solar in the world,
allowing Sterling and Wilson the opportunity to
become the leading solar EPC in the country. The
company has created a global brand and has now
grown to be the worlds largest solar EPC player
outside USA and China.
Laying emphasis on the need to be competitive,
he further added, The strongest contributor to
this tariff is the capital expense driven by lower
equipment cost and a highly efficient system
design. Our unique design offerings and state-
of-the-art robotics optimizes the yield and
performance of the plant.
Sterling and Wilson also has to its credit >1400
MW of best performing solar power plants in
various geographies with a powerhouse of more
than 3000 qualified engineers, project managers
and designers.
As the acceleration of growth in the energy
sector has increased worldwide, Sterling and
Wilson has ventured into the wind and energy
storage sectors, covering the entire canvas in the
renewable sector. Backed by its robust resources
in project management, project implementation
and project engineering, with projects completed
in the Philippines and South Africa, and a number
of projects in Zambia, Niger and Morocco under
construction, the company is fully geared to deliver
more than 3000 MW every year.
The Technology Behind the
Worlds Largest Floating
Photovoltaic Power Plant
Land scarcity has severely limited
Singapores adoption of solar power.
Floating solar panels may be a viable
alternative for the city-state surrounded
by water. Floating panels could be eleven
percent more efficient than solar panels
placed on precious land. Pioneering
technology leader ABB is providing critical
components on a landmark one megawatt
floating solar photovoltaic test-bed. It
measures 1 hectare or 1.5 football fields.
The energy generated will be fed into the
national energy grid, providing electricity
for up to 250 households.
We are proud to support this
important project in Singapore with our
technological expertise and domain
knowledge, said Tarak Mehta, president
of ABBs Electrification Products division.
This project is perfectly aligned with our
Next Level strategy around the energy
revolution and is an important step in
collaborating with partners to bring more
renewables into the future energy mix.
Located in the Tengeh Reservoir in
west Singapore, the installation features
multiple solar solutions from providers
to study the performance and cost-
effectiveness of floating solar platforms.
ABB supplied 100 kW of market-leading
TRIO-50 solar inverters to Phoenix Solar,
one of several system integrators for the
project. These essential components
convert the direct current produced in
solar panels into alternating current for
use in electrical grids. Additionally, ABB
low-voltage molded case and miniature
circuit breakers protect the electrical
circuits on the water.
n Singapore a country with an area of
only 719 square km and a population of
5.6 million high average annual solar
irradiation of about 1,500 kWh/m2 makes
solar an attractive source of renewable
energy. Floating solar platforms will be
naturally cooled by the surrounding water,
which increases the efficiency of the
energy yields significantly. A study has
found that the natural cooling effect of the
water beneath the solar cells makes them
up to 11 percent more efficient than solar
panels placed on land. In a synergistic
effect, the floating platform helps reduce
evaporation of the valuable water.
Thermal Storage: The Greenest Way To Boost PV Self-Consumption
The energy used for heating hot water for sanitary
purpose (or other purposes) is a rather relevant item
of expense in families, hotels, communities and
factories, but it can be easily decreased thanks to
solar panels and thermal storage.
Many houses are already equipped with electric
boilers and hot water storage tanks, thus they can
be upgraded thanks to solar PV plants and to new
technologies to exploit the potential of renewable
energies.
This is an interesting opportunity indeed: the
use of clean energy for activating an immersion
heater using self-consumption only, offers clear
advantages to reduce the energy bills and the
environmental impact.
One of the many benefits of heating water with an
immersion tank is that power consumptions can be
monitored in real time, thus allowing to modulate
the power absorbed by a load. This way, it is
possible to use only the surplus energy produced
by solar PV systems, without drawing any energy
from the grid.
4-noks Power Reducer control unit designed
and manufactured in Italy by Astrel Group was
specifically created to use at its best the immersion
heater: Power Reducer exploits homegrown energy
adjusting automatically and in real time the power
diverted to the water heater depending on the
surplus energy available, even few hundred watts.
The result? Self-consumption capacity can be
dramatically increased, therefore immersion heaters
can be used as real thermal batteries.
It goes without saying this has a great impact on
energy usage and environmental footprint. For
those who have (or will soon have) a solar PV plant,
thermal storage may be one of the most convenient
solutions to cut down energy bills.
For instance: if the hot water requirement per
person is 60 litres/day, for a family of 4 people
the daily energy to heat water is around 9-12kWh.
Using an immersion tank up to 3kW, this results in
3/4 hours of running at full power.
In case of domestic solar PV systems with a peak
power between 3kWp and 6kWp, it is likely that
such power is not always available to switch the
boilers resistance on or for storing full power,
making it necessary to draw energy from the grid.
In case the PV plant already has the 4-noks
Elios4you system installed, the Power Reducer can
be easily combined with the monitoring device,
thus it can be directly managed from the App
(Android/iOS).
Thanks to the free App Elios4you, super easy
to use even for non-experts, the activation of the
Power Reducer can be managed and customized
depending on the users needs.
The immersion heater activation can be easily
programmed via App with scheduled operating
hours and thresholds, with real time view of the
energy diverted to the electric boiler. If necessary,
it is also possible to force the immersion tank to
operate at full power, with a simple tap on your
smartphone.
For those who are not interested in monitoring the
whole solar PV plant but would just like to maximize
the use of surplus energy producing hot water,
Power Reducer is also available in its stand-alone
version. With a built-in energy meter, this simple
installation will deliver immediate savings.
Solar energy and technology are therefore the
best allies for a more eco-sustainable lifestyle:
with 4-noks Power Reducer the user can exploit
at its best the clean energy produced by the solar
PV system, using in an easy and efficient way the
greenest storage system now available, hot water.
Renewable Green Leaders July 2017 55
 Age-Old Technology Is Making Its Way
Back Thanks To Renewables
DC power lines are stepping back into the spotlight.
For the longest time, AC power has proven to
be a more flexible option instead of the use of
DC power lines. Though back in the old days,
people were convinced otherwise. This was
the hot topic during the War of Currents, where
Edison and Tesla duked it out to prove which
power transmission system was the best.
During the war, Edison convinced the people
that DC was the solution and that AC was
dangerous. Tesla, on the other hand, showed
people the capabilities of AC powering larger
areas. The battle lasted for a few years, with a
few underhanded tactics here and there. One of
the most notable acts was Edison electrocuting
random stray animals. This was to keep the
people in fear of AC power, keeping his pockets
lined with his DC patents.
It wasnt till 1893 where Chicago Worlds Fair
decided that AC was the better option. This
was due to the fact that AC power was cheaper
to operate as compared to DC power. It was
the turning point of the war and its what truly
decided that AC was the better option. That
was until the 1970s, where DC power started to
shine again.
DC power was able to outclass AC power in
terms of long-distance power transmission.
From the 1-mile radius it used to have, it was
now able to reach further than 300-500 miles.
While AC also had the capabilities to do so,
DC provided it with no power loss. Today, due
to the nature of wind farms being isolated from
the community, DC is making a comeback once
more.
Renewable energy almost always has to come
from a remote location. Be it solar, wind, or
hydroelectric, the best places to gather power
was always at a far away place. Wind farms
need to be far from urban and rural areas to
have the highest efficiency. Hydroelectric farms,
well, they need to be close to water. Since these
power sources are far from where the energy
needs to be, DC proves to be the solution.
There wont be any problems with this as well.
Renewable energy is a natural source of DC
power. Another good thing to note is that theres
quite a number of devices inside a typical
household that runs on internal DC power.
Flatscreen TVs, microwaves, fans, these all have
internal DC power sources. And in the next 20
years, up to 50% of your household electronics
may be DC powered. This helps the renewables
industry move forward, thats why a lot of
energy companies are investing in it. This age-
old technology that was once discarded is now
coming back with a better purpose.