Emerge and Al Dahra to develop rooftop solar project in Abu Dhabi 

Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF, and Al Dahra Group, an integrated agri-businesses in the Middle East, have entered into a strategic partnership to develop a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at Al Dahra Food Industry at Khalifa Industrial Zone Facility Abu Dhabi (KIZAD). 

The rooftop solar system will be installed on Al Dahra’s rice processing facility at KIZAD and will produce about 45 percent of its annual energy demand. Under the agreement, Emerge will provide a full turnkey solution for the 1.2-megawatt peak (MWp) project, including the design, procurement, and construction, as well as operation and maintenance of the plant. The project is scheduled to be operational next year. 

The partnership aims to support the UAE’s food security strategy by assisting with sustainable agricultural practices, supplementing existing electricity demand, and showcasing renewable energy technology and its impacts on industrial facilities. 

The rooftop solar PV could potentially provide 6 percent of the country’s total power generation by 2030, as stated on The International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) REmap 2030 report on renewable energy prospects for the UAE. 

Al Dahra Group legal department is headed by Group General Counsel Dawn Sanderson (pictured).