Alec wins Dubai Hills Mall solar project deal

Leading construction company Alec Engineering and Contracting said its renewable energy business unit has been awarded a major contract by Emaar Development to develop a 6.5 MWp private solar power plant for its Dubai Hills Mall project. The retail destination is the latest addition to the premier lifestyle destination at Dubai Hills Estate, and will feature 2 million sq ft of leasable space spread out over the ground and first floor levels, boasting more than 700 retail and F&B (food and beverage) outlets, family entertainment, cinema and supermarket. Located on the junction of Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Road, the solar power facility will include 24,000 solar panels on the mall roof and is expected to produce 10.5 million kwh/units of electrical energy in a year. With this move, the Emaar Development venture will be able to offset 4.62 milllion kg of carbon dioxide every year. which is the equivalent to 1,673 passenger vehicles driven for one year. As per the deal, Alec Energy will carry out all of the system design, local approvals and construction and the plant will be built and commissioned in line with the construction programme and be ready to operate in time for the mall opening, it stated. On the contract win, Alec Energy general manager James Stewart said: "We are very excited to collaborate with Emaar Development on this exciting solar project. Solar Energy is a smart choice and has many financial and environmental benefits especially in large malls which are large consumers of power." "This decision also assists the UAE in meeting its 2030 renewable energy targets