Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Swiss company ABB to develop a grid-connected rooftop 277kW photovoltaic (PV) system at ABB’s premises in the Al-Quoz area of the city.

The pilot project will connect to Dewa’s grid through a low-voltage distribution board at ABB. It will be used as a learning tool for the deployment of solar PV rooftop installations in Dubai, as part of the city’s sustainability efforts.

However, property developers are still balking at the cost of rooftop solar for normal projects.

Dewa awarded a $55m contract to ABB in October to design and construct a substation to integrate the Muhammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park onto the grid. Phase 2 of the solar project is due to start generating in 2017.