CleanMax Solar, a leading rooftop solar developer, has partnered with Danube Group, UAE’s diversified conglomerate for a 1,200  kW rooftop solar project at its manufacturing facility in Techno Park, Dubai.

The facility will meet the majority of Danube’s annual electricity requirements by embracing solar power and will save AED 300,000 (~$81,000) per annum on its electricity bills, according to the company statement.

The rooftop solar power project is spread across four buildings and is based on the build- own and operate (BOO) model.  The project also has an added benefit of net metering under the Shams Dubai program. Here, the additional power generated by the solar project will be exported back to Dubai Electricity, and Water Authority’s (DEWA) grid and Danube will get credits for the units exported, thus increasing its electricity cost savings.

The project provides Danube Group with solar electricity at tariffs cheaper than the prevailing grid electricity tariff under a long-term agreement. Through the rooftop solar project, the Danube Group is expected to abate 845 tons of carbon emissions per annum, the press release states.

When asked how much Danube Group will pay for the solar power, Sushant Arora, CEO, CleanMax Solar (MENA), said, “Danube Group pays solar tariff which is cheaper than the prevailing grid electricity tariffs. Danube saves approximately $81,000 (₹5.7 million)/ per annum on its electricity bill on account of the solar power project.”

“Danube Group is one of the largest diversified business groups in the Middle East. So, this partnership will give us the opportunity to power the group’s other facilities in the future as well, re-enforcing our vision as sustainability partners of choice for corporates and institutions in the UAE,” Arora told Mercom.

The current electricity tariff in Dubai is 0.445 AED (~$0.121)/kWh.

“We are offering long term power purchase agreements with solar tariffs at 20-40% discount to the grid in our build-own-operate model,” informed Arora.

CleanMax Solar is backed by institutional investors like Warburg Pincus, International Finance Corporation (a member of World Bank Group), and Macquarie-managed UK Climate Investments. The company has been in the UAE since 2017.

Meanwhile, Rizwan Sajan, chairman of the Danube Group informed that the government of UAE launched Dubai Clean Energy Strategy under which they (government) aim to have 25% of solar energy in the energy mix by 2030.

“We completely support this vision and are aligning our business objectives towards achieving a sustainable future. A clean energy transition is no longer an option, but a necessity,” he said, adding, “Today, the adoption of solar energy is also commercially beneficial.”

Recently, CleanMax Solar partnered with the Indian Academy, Dubai, to install a 192 kW rooftop solar project in the school. The project is expected to generate 307,000 kWh of electricity per year and will help to cover 70% of the school’s electricity requirement, states.

Image credit: CleanMax Solar