DUBAI // Solar-power generation in the UAE is hampered by high temperatures and dust, but a German engineering firm based in Dubai may be on track to a solution.
Extreme summer heat reduces the efficiency of solar panel semi-conductors, which turn sunlight into energy, by up to two thirds. Dust hampers the process by obstructing the sun.
A German infrastructure consultancy, Waagner Biro Gulf, is tackling both issues by proposing that if the solar panels can be rinsed with water in an energy-efficient manner they can remain productive even during the summer. Their testing ground is in the Ras al Khor industrial area of Dubai.
When The National paid a visit to the site, Peter Neuschaefer, Waagner Biro's director of water, energy and environment, pointed to a 3.5-metre-high canopy of 64 solar panels, made into a makeshift fountain with a continuous flow of water. "It sounds as if it is raining," he said. The project would lack environmental credibility if the water was potable. In a country that relies on energy-intensive desalination plants, every drop comes with a carbon footprint large enough to render such an effort unsustainable.
But the liquid running off the solar panels is sewage, waste water that has been purified using a low-energy system mimicking processes that occur in nature. The water is cleaned by being run through a patch of common reeds; the bacteria living in the roots of the reeds feed on the organic pollutants. The plants are already helping to purify water simply by existing in marshes and lagoons all over the world. Waagner Biro Gulf has 18 such projects serving homes and developments in Dubai and the northern Emirates. The solar panels, however, are a new twist.
"Reed beds have been used to clean up sewage before, but this is the first time this process is coupled with solar-energy generation," Mr Neuschaefer said. "The advantage of this process is that water gets reused within the system, and this is very cost-effective." Mr Neuschaefer's 10-square-metre experimental patch builds on the reed system, adding a metre-deep layer of sand in the dirt under the reeds, and above, a plastic lining to protect the surrounding area, to help cool the water even more.
Three times a day, sewage and waste water produced by the 100 labourers who live on the Ras al Khor site, a total of 30 cubic metres a day, are flushed through the reeds. After the water is purified, it is sent to a nearby garden, where it is used to irrigate beans, tomatoes and watermelons, or to a second pond housing the solar canopy. The water circulates continuously through the system. Up at the surface of the first patch, any waste sludge left over dries out in the sun between the thrice-daily flushings, eliminating unpleasant smells.
The system was installed in May, and since then, Mr Neuschaefer has been exploring methods of cooling down the solar panels. So far, the best way appears to be using pipes that pump water through the system. The company's tests have shown that the flow of treated water cuts temperatures on the solar panels in half, from 80°C to 40°C. Once a cooling system has been chosen, the project's next step will involve connecting a battery to the system to store the generated electricity.
Success, however, will depend on how it could be applied, said Tanzeed Alam, sustainability and climate change manager at the Emirates Wildlife Society-World Wide Fund for Nature. "Any project that demonstrates the role of solar in providing a low-carbon source of energy is welcome and much needed in the UAE," he said. "However, the extent to which such a project can reduce the UAE's carbon footprint will depend on the scale and timescale over which it is implemented."
vtodorova@thenational.ae
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
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In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
