Dubai: You can now tap solar energy to power your villa or building in Dubai and even supply surplus energy to offset your monthly bills.

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) on Sunday launched the start of its first smart initiative, the Shams Dubai, (Shams is Arabic for “sun”) to regulate the generation of solar energy for houses and buildings across Dubai.

“Shams Dubai supports the Green Economy for Sustainable Development economic initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and implements Council Resolution Number 46 of 2014, issued by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, to enable customers to install photovoltaic panels to generate electricity from solar power in buildings, and connect them to Dewa’s grid,” said Saeed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa.

Al Tayer said the new initiative will promote a culture of sustainability among Dubai residents by encouraging them to install photovoltaic solar panels on their roofs to produce clean power and connect it to Dewa’s grid.

Unlike in other countries like the UK where homes that produce solar power are paid for the electricity they generate even if they use it, plus the extra power they send back to the grid, Dewa’s incentive for customers will be given on credit basis.

“Customers can use the electricity they generate using photovoltaic panels. An offset between exported and imported electricity units is conducted and the customer account is settled based on this offset,” Al Tayer said.

Meaning, if a resident produces more electricity than his monthly usage, the extra power will be sent to the grid and is then credited to the resident’s account in lieu of his future electricity use.

Waleed Salman, Executive Vice-President of Strategy and Business Development at Dewa, said current technologies allow for solar power generation of about 20 to 50 per cent of the producer’s needs. This, he said, already offers big savings for households.

He clarified that anyone can apply and install solar panels in his or her own property whether it be a villa, a residential building, or a development. But freehold property owners can only do it collectively through their homeowners’ association.

Dewa said 11 establishments have so far applied to install solar panels to produce a total of 8.5 megawatts of power. Around five of these are residential, while the rest are commercial or government entities, and big developments. The Dubai International Humanitarian City is one of them, and has requested permission to set up a unit capable of producing 2 megawatts.

Applications can be put in for free and may take between a week for small systems producing 10 or 20kW, and four to eight weeks for larger, commercial, or industrial systems. A fixed amount of Dh1,500 is needed to install the meter for the whole system.

Al Tayer advised residents keen on installing solar panels to only transact with contractors and manufacturers registered with Dewa to ensure that standards of safety and reliability are met.

Currently, there are 19 contractors and 16 manufacturers enrolled with Dewa.