DEWA Grants 51 Solar Certificates to Boost Industrial Adoption

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has granted 51 ‘D33 Industry Friendly Power Certificates’ to 24 companies across the emirate since launching the initiative, aimed at accelerating solar energy adoption in the industrial and technology sectors.

The initiative allows eligible industrial firms, agri-tech enterprises, and data centres to install photovoltaic (PV) solar systems on-site for internal consumption, potentially covering up to 100 percent of their energy requirements.

Under the D33 policy, DEWA will purchase any surplus power generated by these systems at a fixed rate of 10.5 fils per kilowatt-hour, subject to specific terms. Certified companies also benefit from additional incentives, including priority access to International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs) issued by DEWA, a 25 percent discount on new connection charges, and an interest-free instalment plan for up to two years from the issuance of connection fee statements or system energisation.

The D33 initiative forms part of Dubai’s broader push to become a global hub for sustainable industrial development. It aligns with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, both of which aim to transition the emirate’s power mix entirely to clean energy sources by mid-century.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said the programme reinforces Dubai’s vision of becoming one of the world’s top three economic cities. “We continue to support vital sectors through high-impact initiatives that promote sustainability, environmentally responsible manufacturing, and long-term economic growth,” he stated.

The D33 Industry Friendly Power Policy by DEWA is expected to improve energy efficiency, attract new industrial investments, and empower key sectors with greater energy independence through on-site solar generation.

Dubai hosts the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the world’s largest single-site solar park under the IPP model. The mega-solar park is a cornerstone of Dubai’s ambition to source 100 percent of its energy from clean sources by 2050. DEWA recently invited international developers to submit expressions of interest (EOI) for a tender to develop 1,600-megawatt (MW) solar project, the seventh-phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The 2,000MW solar facility is equipped with a battery energy storage system capable of offering 1,000MW support for six hours – a 6,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) storage capacity.