Solar energy drives Emirati woman’s passion

Mona Al Ali said she was attracted to architectural engineering because she has a sense of artistry and liked designing.

A combination of Mona Al Ali’s personal and professional interests has been the engine for a career in solar energy. Lee Hoagland / The National

ABU DHABI // As the only one of 13 siblings to graduate from university, Mona Al Ali is driven by her passion for solar energy and design.

Born in Fujairah in 1985, Ms Al Ali moved to Al Ain to complete her bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering at UAE University.

“I was interested in this field because I found that I have a sense of artistry and I like designing and painting,” she said. “So I found that this discipline was closest to my interests and I also like maths and engineering, so it combines both.”

After completing her master’s in engineering systems and management at the Masdar Institute for Science and Technology, she focused on sustainability.

“It was a hot topic back then in the UAE,” Ms Al Ali said. “Masdar really encouraged me to get into it. After we graduated, we saw the importance of maintaining the environment and the problem of global warming – everyone kept talking about it.”

Although her family is based in Fujairah, she moved to Masdar’s campus in Abu Dhabi.

“My family is very proud of me because I am the only one - and the youngest – of 13 siblings that continued my studies and pursued a career of my own,” she said.

While at Masdar, a group of 10 Emiratis travelled to MIT in Boston for two weeks to learn about engineering. But that was not enough.

“We decided to do something about green energy because we realised that we’ve been learning about it but we never really applied it,” she said. “So we funded a one-week trip to Sri Lanka to install solar panels on houses.”

The Renewable Energy Ambassadors visited Negombo, on the country’s west coast, to set up four solar panels and fans with lights on four houses that had no access to electricity from the grid.

The students studied the location and sun direction to identify the best angle for fixing the solar panels. One of the panels powered three LED lights and an electric fan, and could generate power for up to eight hours.

“I stayed at Masdar as a research engineer after that,” Ms Al Ali said. “I worked on small projects in solar because it’s my favourite topic.”

She went to Sweden to deliver a paper on solar power and electric cars.

“I travelled to Morocco and Korea to represent the UAE in a conference on clean energy last year for one week,” she said. “I gave a talk to ministers about the UAE, which was the only Arab country taking part.”

She has been working for Arab Tech for the past eight months, in 3D modelling of complex buildings.

“I didn’t have a chance to pursue anything in architecture and I am passionate about it which is why I moved here,” Ms Al Ali said. “I started off in the design department, which was later closed down so I am now in interior design, which is more interesting.”

Her dream is to combine solar and design.

“I really want to integrate solar panels in buildings, not just technically, but the shape and aesthetics too,” she added. “As I like art, I also started my own business in paintings called Monart two months ago. A lot of people asked me to paint for them and I organised an art gallery for Arab Tech on National Day.

“You need to look for what you are passionate about because, otherwise, you can’t give 100 per cent.”

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