SirajPower, UAE’s locally-owned and leading distributed solar energy provider, has signed a long-term solar deal with Emirates Group to install the region’s first and largest solar carport for a sports facility, GDNonline reports.
The 2 MWp solar carport will be custom-built for Sevens Stadium, a facility owned by Emirates Group known for hosting the world-famous annual Emirates Dubai 7s and other international sporting and entertainment events throughout the year.
Under this long-term partnership, SirajPower will undertake the complete scope of services for the solar carport, including design, installation, financing, long-term operation, and maintenance. The project consists of installing 4,500 solar modules over an area of 10,551 sq m, producing 3.6 GWh of clean energy annually, and thereby offsetting over 1,496 metric tons of CO2 emissions every year.
The Sevens Stadium features eight floodlit sports fields, six cricket ovals, four netball courts, and 15,000 parking spaces. It is the largest sports facility of its kind in the UAE, hosting 7,000-10,000 people each week during the winter season for community sports. The facility is now being transformed into the region’s greenest sports arena and Dubai’s largest solar carport in a single location.
Many sports facilities invested a lot of effort to reduce their environmental impact globally, with the most sustainable venues being Kaohsiung in Taiwan, also called ‘World Games Stadium,’ The Mercedes Benz Arena in Atlanta, and the recently newly built Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Laurent Longuet, CEO at SirajPower, said: “The increasing adoption rate of solar technologies in the UAE market is remarkable. SirajPower has proudly been at the forefront of this successful development through its strategic and continuous long-term partnerships with key players across diverse industries, striving for more meaningful ways to lower their environmental impact while reducing on their energy costs. This effectively supports Dewa’s clean energy target expected to account for 12% of Dubai’s overall production by the end of 2021.
“The adoption of solar carports is trending in the market, and SirajPower’s early strong belief in developing this solution has led us to become the leading operator in the region. We see the fruition of our team’s dedication and effort to market these competitive solutions, from the recently commissioned largest solar carport in Abu Dhabi with Masdar to our latest partnership with The Sevens Stadium. We are delighted to see one of the UAE’s most prominent sports facilities anchoring sustainability in their operations and honored to have Emirates Group in our list of prestigious clients.”
Thomas Burwell, General Manager and Tournament Director at The Sevens Stadium, said: “We have always been conscious of the importance of conserving energy and positively impacting our environment.”
“The sustainable development and operation of such a world-class facility support the UAE’s effort to promote a green economy and enhance green projects. As a Group, Emirates already incorporates sustainable practices in the business as it focuses efforts on three areas: reducing emissions, consuming responsibly, and preserving wildlife and habitats.
“The Sevens Stadium, as the leading sports facility in the region, is looking at all of our practices on-site and at the tournament as we drive to have a more positive impact on our environment. With upwards of 10,000 users of the facility per week, including a large number of school children, using sport to educate the next generation on sustainability and impact on the planet is an opportunity we are pleased to take,” he added.
Some of SirajPower’s key solar carports track record in the UAE include Al Khail Heights, the largest solar carport for residential, Midfield Terminal in Abu Dhabi, Kent College Dubai, Majid Al Futtaim’s Tilal Al Ghaf, RSA Cold Chain, RSA Logistics, and most recently Dewa HQ.
