Coinciding with Green Week and WETEX 2014 in Dubai, the International Humanitarian City (IHC) is partnering with Panmed Renewable Energy LLC for the launch of a 5.6 MW Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Power Project in Dubai.

The humanitarian hub has always been at the forefront of implementing best practices in development and humanitarian causes. Specifically, taking advantage of available resources, in this instance rooftop space, to conserve precious resources such as energy would enable IHC to implement in its own backyard the same practices currently being exported throughout the developmental world. The project will include preliminary stages of design, development, and construction, as well as the testing, commissioning and completion of the plant which will be the first of its kind in IHC.

“We are excited to be part of this innovative green project, as we expand our outreach into areas of environmental development and energy conservation with our partners,” said IHC CEO Shaima Al Zarooni. “This is an important step for us in implementing the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to promote Dubai’s sustainable development. While our mandate is ensuring the efficient delivery of humanitarian assistance around the world, we are certainly committed to preserving our long-term objectives at home.”

Panmed Energy LLC, part of Panmed Group – a leading consultancy firm specialized in energy services and investments – opened its offices in Dubai, and started its activities across the UAE on October 1st, 2013. It currently has projects in Dubai which consist of the design, construction and operation of several photovoltaic (PV) plants up to a total capacity of 200MW. The project comprises about 20 different photovoltaic plants located in parking spaces of mall, landmarks and ports such as Mirdif City Centre, the IHC and DP world.

The projects will be structured under the Dubai Carbon platform to benefit from the Clean Development Mechanism under the United Nations framework on Climate Change Convention. Waleed Salman, Chairman of Dubai Carbon, stated “Partnerships are the key component of developing a Green Economy, and Dubai Carbon wishes to become a key enabler to best practices. Our support towards the work of IHC is representative of our commitment and international platforms such as CDM can improve access and economic modelling while pursuing alignment to national and regional strategies”.

IHC has been operating from Dubai since HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai established it in 2003 and has helped deliver aid in some of the worst humanitarian crises of the past decade, including the 2004 tsunami in South-east Asia, the recurring drought in the Horn of Africa, civil unrest in Afghanistan and Darfur, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, 2011 unrest in North Africa, and the on-going crisis in Syria.

For more information, visit ihc.ae