The solar carport at Sevens Stadium ... the largest for a sports facility.

Emerson has appointed SirajPower to implement a solar rooftop plant at its Middle East and Africa head office in Dubai, making it the largest solar rooftop plant in a single location within Jebel Ali.

This significant sustainability project supports Emerson’s long-term commitment and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals to promote decarbonisation efforts, minimise emissions and enhance resource efficiency.

 Along with SirajPower, Emerson also appointed Clenergize Solar Consultants as comprehensive adviser to cover the specifications, tendering, contract management, design reviews, and project management.

Ramnath and Longuet sign the deal.

Ramnath and Longuet sign the deal.

The official signing ceremony was held last month at the Emerson’s Jafza facility which was attended by the company’s Middle East and Africa President Vidya Ramnath and SirajPower’s CEO Laurent Longuet. This marks the launch of the solar rooftop project’s installation and commissioning, which is expected to go live before year-end.

The solar rooftop, which will be financed, designed, constructed and operated by SirajPower, consists of 5,489 solar panels covering a roof area of 19,340 sq m across four of Emerson’s warehouses and office buildings in Jebel Ali South.

The solar system has a capacity of 2.6 MWp and will produce 3.923 GWh of clean energy annually. This project will reduce Emerson’s carbon emissions by 2,891 tonnes annually.

“Emerson is transforming its culture, business practices, and infrastructure to support a more inclusive and sustainable planet,” remarks Ramnath.

 “This solar panel installation project is a great example of our commitment towards sustainability in Dubai and is in line with our global sustainability framework, the ‘Greening Of, Greening By, and Greening With Emerson’ which addresses how we, as a company, approach sustainability through how we do business, how we support our customers and how we collaborate with stakeholders,” she adds.

 On the tie-up, Longuet says: “We’re thrilled to have such an enormous global company like Emerson join our journey to a greener economy. As climate change and global warming-related challenges are becoming increasingly important, more companies are beginning to prioritise sustainability as part of their goals towards a sustainable future.”

Meanwhile, SirajPower has signed a long-term solar deal with Emirates Group to install the region’s first and largest solar carport for a sports facility.

The 2 MWp solar carport will be custom-built for Sevens Stadium, owned by Emirates Group which hosts the world-famous annual Emirates Dubai 7s as well as other sporting and entertainment events.

Under this long-term partnership, SirajPower will undertake the complete scope of services for the solar carport which includes the 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 1,496 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per 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, according to SirajPower.

Longuet comments: “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.”

Some of SirajPower’s key solar carports track record in the UAE include Al Khail Heights, Midfield Terminal in Abu Dhabi, Kent College Dubai, Tilal Al Ghaf,  and most recently Dewa headquarters.