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Heriot-Watt University Launches Solar Test Site in Dubai to Boost Solar Technology Development Globally

by Swati Gupta

September 9, 2023 27

Heriot-Watt University in Dubai has initiated a groundbreaking solar energy testing facility, aimed at assisting companies in the UK and worldwide in the development and testing of innovative solar technologies. The rooftop Solar Energy Test Site, strategically located in Dubai Knowledge Park, harnesses the region’s abundant sunshine and marks a significant step in the university’s commitment to sustainability, leading up to COP28.

This ambitious project, backed by funding from the UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) and further supported by the British Embassy in the UAE, is set to revolutionize the solar technology landscape. Professor Tadhg O’Donovan, an esteemed solar expert within Heriot-Watt’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences in Dubai, leads this pioneering venture.

Explaining the significance of this endeavor, Professor O’Donovan emphasized, “The availability of uninterrupted sunshine in Dubai, with minimal cloud cover, provides us with ideal conditions for conducting precise and consistent testing of solar panels. Such conditions are rarely attainable in the UK and are limited in Europe. Heriot-Watt University has a proven track record of supporting UK-based companies in developing technology for their home market and exploring opportunities in the Middle East, and this new facility further reinforces that commitment.”

Already, a Scottish company called Soltropy has seized the opportunity to utilize this state-of-the-art testing facility. Soltropy, headquartered in Glasgow, specializes in an affordable system that allows homes and businesses to efficiently heat water. The company, which has received funding from the Scottish Food and Drink Net Zero Challenge Fund, will deploy its technology on Heriot-Watt’s testing site for research and development purposes.

Stuart Speake, Managing Director of Soltropy, expressed his enthusiasm for this venture, stating, “We have ambitious plans for further refining our technology. Access to a site like this, boasting near-ideal weather conditions and real-time environmental data, is invaluable for us to assess performance accurately.”

Nick Boucher, Head of the UK Science and Innovation Network for the Gulf Region, remarked, “We are delighted to have supported Heriot-Watt University in delivering this exciting project. This presents a unique opportunity for British industries to test and showcase their technologies, as well as explore potential new markets in the Middle East and beyond.”

The Solar Energy Test Site, equipped to accommodate between 24 and 32 solar panels, also features a weather station that continuously provides data, including ambient temperature, sun intensity, humidity, wind speed, and direction. This data is essential for monitoring the performance of solar technologies. The site is directly linked to a data center on the university’s campus, allowing engineers to analyze real-time data against theoretical models, a critical aspect in improving technology performance.

The range of technologies that can be tested at the site is extensive and includes solar thermal panels for water heating, solar photovoltaic technologies for electricity generation, energy storage and battery devices, as well as integrated systems. Furthermore, researchers at the site are exploring applications such as solar-powered cooling and water desalination, which hold significant importance for the Middle East region.

Professor O’Donovan highlighted the pivotal role of solar energy in the Middle East’s decarbonization efforts. As part of its Energy Strategy 2050, the UAE aims to boost clean energy to 50% of its total energy mix by 2050 and reduce carbon emissions from power generation by 70%.

Dubai, set to host COP 28 – the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference – this November and December, is well-known for its abundant sunshine. With an average of nearly 128 hours of sunshine per month and over 3,800 hours annually, the city is an ideal location for solar energy research and development.

Heriot-Watt’s Solar Energy Test Site in Dubai serves as an extension of a similar facility established by Professor O’Donovan in Edinburgh, where companies can test their technologies under typical UK weather conditions.

Dr. Mohamed Al-Musleh, an Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences in Dubai, is the Co-Investigator working alongside Professor O’Donovan on the Solar Energy Test Site project. This initiative represents a significant step towards advancing solar technology on a global scale and reinforces Dubai’s position as a hub for sustainable innovation and development.