Dubai-based RSA Logistics has installed photovoltaic (PV) rooftop solar panels for its headquarters in Dubai Logistics City.

The solar panels will have the capacity to generate up to 1MW, and have been installed on two warehouses adjacent to the company's headquarters.

The solar installation contains 4,000 PV panels that are on lease from SirajPower.

The firms did not disclose the leasing terms, but it is estimated that a 1MW rooftop solar project will cost about $1m and the typical leasing period ranges between 15 and 20 years.

MEED understands the facility can potentially offset up to 95 per cent of the two buildings’ electricity consumption.

Surplus power from the solar installation will be transmitted into the national grid, operated by state utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa).

RSA Logistics says it aims to double solar capacity at its facilities “within a short period of time.”

Laurent Longuet, director at SirajPower, forecasts a lot of similar projects will come online in 2018. “Until a year ago, there was a lack of awareness [about rooftop solar],” Longuet tells MEED. “We are thankful that Dubai’s regulatory framework has enabled such projects.”

Solar rooftop panels across Dubai now account for a total of 17.7MW of power generation capacity since the Shams net metering programme was introduced in 2015.