ENOC Group opened the first solar-powered service station in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reiterating its commitment to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency in line with the Dubai 2021 Plan to become a smart and sustainable city.

The inauguration was attended by  Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of ENOC Board and Managing Director and CEO, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), including all the Board of Directors of ENOC, Ahmad Al Muhairbi,  Abdulrahman Al Saleh, Dr Abdulrahman A. Al Awar, Ahmed Sharaf, and HHussain Hassan Mirza Al Sayegh, along with Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO of ENOC, Zaid Alqufaidi, Managing Director of ENOC's retail business, and the Group's senior management team.

Located near the entrance towards Dubai Internet City (DIC) on Sheikh Zayed Road, the service station has installed PhotoVoltaic (PV) solar panels on the roof of the canopy that can produce a peak capacity of 120kWh (Kilowatt per hour) energy on an ideal day, generating approximately 30 per cent more than the average energy required to run the station. The excess power generated is transmitted back to DEWA's main grid through a DEWA solar metre that tracks the power injected to the power grid.

 Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO of ENOC, said: "As the key energy player behind Dubai's success, we remain committed to expanding the UAE's infrastructural capabilities as we gear up for the Expo 2020. The Group has laid out a detailed plan to deliver 14 service stations by 2017. With two service station openings already announced earlier this year, the launch the UAE's first solar powered service station demonstrates our efforts to become an environmentally responsible energy player."

The DIC service station is a pilot site for a number of energy saving technologies such as Vapor Recovery systems and PV panels. All future ENOC service stations will have provisions to install PV solar panels on the roof of the canopy.

"We have been pioneering several initiatives across the country that are in line with the Dubai's larger plan for a smarter and more sustainable Dubai while managing the emirate's future growth. We will continue moving forward by ensuring the availability of clean energy sources and promoting rationalisation of consumption," added Al Falasi.

The DIC service station will reduce the network's carbon footprint by 195 equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. The station will also deploy several energy saving technologies such as variable refrigerant flow air-conditionings units, motion sensor energy lighting and vapour recovery (VR) system which uses a process to recover vapour released from the petrol dispensers and storage tanks and condense it back into fuel form. The VR system is expected to convert up to 20,000 litres of fuel.

Equipped with forty-eight modern and fully integrated digital wall displays, motorists will receive information on latest offers and promotions offered at ENOC service stations and ZOOM outlets. Customers will also will be able to access other facilities at the station, which includes the 1,500 square feet ZOOM convenience store; offering over 7,500 products; Pronto's F&B offering and also enjoy a variety of other F&B offerings from Burger King, Popeyes Chicken. ZOOM will offer the standard services like DEWA bill payment, top up for Salik and telecoms, FlyDubai, ticket sales for events and credit card bill payments.

Customers looking for automotive services like car wash, service and maintenance, oil change, tyres, batteries, mechanical and electrical, polishing, among others, can visit AutoPro's 30th facility with five bays and three carwash services. Customers can receive a 50 per cent discount for a limited period.

Source: Khaleej Times