Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organises the Solar Decathlon Middle East (SDME) from 14-29 November 2018. The competition is part of a partnership between Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, DEWA, and the US Department of Energy. Dubai will host the first two SDME competitions, which is organised for the first time in the Middle East and Africa, with prizes totalling AED 20 million for the 1st and 2nd SDME.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, has invited the public, university and school students from across the UAE, to visit the SDME site at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world. Visitors can see the houses built by the participating teams over the last 15 days, and learn about the innovative technologies that have been used to design and build smart and sustainable homes that contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. DEWA has allocated 60,000 square metres to the event at the solar park considering its importance as a pioneering landmark that will contribute to the shift towards renewable and clean energy in Dubai.
“With the support of our wise leadership, the UAE has become an important hub for creativity and innovators from all over the world. Hosting the SDME with the participation of 15 teams from 54 nationalities representing 28 universities from 11 countries, is part of our efforts to support innovation in sustainability and encourage the youth from around the world, to develop innovative solutions for global efforts to combat the negative impact of climate change. This also enhances the transition towards a more sustainable lifestyle, contributing to protecting the environment and natural resources. We realise that the youth are the driving force for building a brighter future and the cornerstone of sustainable development,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, noted that the SDME teams have designed, built, and operated cost-effective and energy-efficient sustainable solar-powered homes, with a focus on protecting the environment, taking into consideration the regional climate. The teams compete in 10 contests: architecture; engineering and building; energy management; energy efficiency; comfort conditions; house functioning; sustainable transport; sustainability; communications, and innovation.
Participating teams may earn points in three ways: Task Completion, where teams complete tasks that simulate modern living, performing household chores, such as cooking, laundry, and hosting dinner gatherings, as well as log miles driving an electric vehicle charged by the house’s solar power system; Monitored Performance, where an advanced and comprehensive monitoring system evaluates the house’s energy performance and capacity to maintain a healthy and comfortable interior environment, including temperature, humidity, air quality, and lighting; and Jury Evaluation for features that cannot be measured with meters or sensors. Special awards at SDME include the Special Creative Solution Award for innovative solutions that can be developed commercially; the People’s Choice Award where visitors can vote for the best house; the Interior Design Award; and the Building-Integrated Photovoltaics Award.
The SDME Steering Committee includes the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy; Ministry of Cabinet Affairs & The Future; Ministry of Energy & Industry; Ministry of Education; Dubai Municipality; Dubai Police; Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA); Expo 2020 Dubai; and Dubai Future Foundation. The SDME sponsors include the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy; Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar); Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC); General Electric; and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power. General Motors Middle East is providing 17 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles for the teams to use during the competition.
To register for free to visit the SDME 2018 at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al Dahl, Dubai and enjoy relevant educational and entertaining activities, please visit www.solardecathlonme.com