Dubai solar: A step-by-step guide to the process of installing solar panels

There are hurdles to overcome to installing solar panels in your home, from getting approval from your developer to using a Dewa-approved contractor, but there's no substitute for good research.

Choose product type and site location

First, homeowners need to contact the developer of their community to find out whether there are any restrictions on changing physical properties of the home. For example, an owner with property in The Springs would need to contact Emaar Properties.

You may think that you can install panels on the ground, out of sight. It is very important to avoid total or partial shading of panels during the day as this will render the system ineffective. Look to have mounted solar panels in a seamless configuration to enable easy access for cleaning. Flat villa rooftops and parking garages are some of the most suitable areas.

Make sure the location is ventilated as the breeze will help increase panel efficiency, which means a greater return on investment.

No two systems are alike and will not have the same power output. Solar installers should survey each property and advise you on the best layout and installation method.

Budget

Solar panels typically only make up 40 per cent of the total cost of a system while other parts such as inverters, mounting and wiring make up another 40 per cent. This leaves the design, installation and various authority approvals.

Go to the Shams Dubai website and look through the list of registered consultants – 52 by mid-­December.

Get prices from numerous approved contractors and look up their previous experience. As it is relatively easy to become a certified expert, homeowners should look for reputable companies with proven experience in Dubai. It is important to note that contractors who are not ­Dewa-approved will not be ­allowed to connect your system to the grid.

You can also gauge prices by going to Dubai’s newly launched Green Deal site which offers a standardised approach.

Engineering and approval

Homeowners need to have the property’s construction drawings and site affection plan, which was provided by the developer at the time of purchase.

This is used by the contractors/consultants to create new drawings to show the layout of the panels and wiring for approval by the various authorities. Some contractors will go as far as providing renderings to show how your system will look.

The contractor needs to obtain no-objection certificates from Dewa (electrical side of system) and Dubai Municipality (mechanical/construction side of system) before any work can start. Usually the homeowner is responsible for applying for community/developer approvals and access permits using the same drawings/paperwork.

There are some companies that offer all-inclusive services but you should make sure to know exactly what is included at the beginning.

Purchase, install and commission

If your contractor doesn’t sell the equipment, you may use panels from a variety of other sources as long as the specifications match the requirements given by Dewa.

Again, research the type of panels to make sure that would be a good fit for what your needs.

Do not make a decision based solely on price but look at efficiency and any other reviews of the product.

Shams Dubai also includes a list of approved products and vendors.

The best route would definitely be to find a contractor that offers a turnkey ­installation, or a solution that offers one rate for everything from installation, consulting to financing.

The total time from idea to implementation can be from as little as three months (Dubai Carbon) or up to five months (Oryx Solar).

The actual installation of the system should take no longer than three days.

Then there should be three to four visits and inspections from Dewa and Dubai Municipality.

The rest is time it takes to seek the various stages of approval required.

* Input provided by Dubai Carbon and Oryx Solar

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