DUBAI / Emirates Business
All future ENOC service stations will be powered by solar energy to support the UAE’s long-term strategy to target an energy mix that combines renewable, nuclear and clean energy sources to meet the country’s economic requirements and environmental goals.
The announcement, made during the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2017, is also in line with the Group’s commitment to be aligned with the Dubai 2021 Plan to become a smart and sustainable city.
Earlier this year, ENOC piloted the first solar-powered service station in the country at its Dubai Internet City (DIC) facility. The station features Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on the roof of the canopy with a peak capacity of 120kW (Kilowatt) energy on an ideal day, generating approximately 30 per cent more than the average energy required to run the station. The excess energy generated is transmitted back to DEWA’s main grid through a DEWA solar meter that measures and monitors the power injected to the power grid.
His Excellency Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO of ENOC, said: “Commitment to sustainable development fosters an innovative mindset that combines operational efficiency and profit generation with solutions that benefit communities and residents. With the success of our DIC service station, we will now install solar panels in all new stations to produce the alternative energy required to run these facilities. We aim to continue to provide our customers with high-quality products and services through expanding ENOC’s geographical footprint across the UAE.â€
ENOC estimates more than 23 GWh of solar energy will be generated to power the new stations by 2020, minimising the load on DEWA’s grid and power generating stations.
Across its current retail network of 116 stations in the UAE, the Group has deployed a host of innovative initiatives that contribute to enhancing energy efficiency, such as the Vapour Recovery System – a process that enables the recovery of 99 per cent gasoline vapour emissions. Other technologies also include the Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air-conditioning system that controls the refrigerant flowing into multiple indoor units, which contributed to annual electricity savings of 48,506 kWh, and LED lights in all facilities.
ENOC’s installation of PV solar panels on the roof of the service station canopies can be experienced at stand SSP4, Zabeel Hall 1, through the Virtual Reality (VR) technology.
A Strategic Sponsor of WETEX 2017, ENOC is showcasing solutions that support environmental sustainability and promotes energy use efficiency in line with the exhibition’s overall focus on green technology.