Emirates Insolaire plans rapid expansion in 2016

Dubai - The coloured solar panels, manufactured with the world's first KromatixTM technology, are on high on demand because of its aesthetic and sustainable features.

Emirates Insolaire - a pioneer in the development and application of unique solar technologies - and a joint venture of Dubai Investments and SwissINSO Holding is set for a rapid expansion accelerating by the end of the first half of 2016, said Rafic Hanbali, managing partner of Emirates Insolaire on Thursday on sidelines of the concluding day of The Big 5 International Building and Construction Show.
In its maiden participation at The Big 5 the company showcased the first-of-its-kind in the world coloured solar panels. The coloured solar panels, manufactured with the world's first KromatixTM technology, are on high on demand because of its aesthetic and sustainable features.
"The company has been witnessing considerable demand from GCC, Europe and US and the rest of the world and the initial projects in the UAE have been determined and agreed and will start when documentary process will be ready by March 2016. The upcoming projects are for roofs, facades, carports and ground mounted. Our area of focus in first-half will be in Building Integrated Photovoltaics, or BIPV, meaning covering buildings, existing or new, with a beautiful dress producing energy," said Hanbali.
Going by the projects on hand, demand and enquiries across the globe, Emirates Insolaire expects sales over 50,000 square metres for coloured solar panels in 2015 alone. Each coloured solar panel can generate above 150 watts electric power per square meter on roof, or above 110 watts per square meter on façades. "Currently the company's present capacity is above one million square meters per year. On the glass it is able to meet the increasing demand, and for the finished photo-voltaic panel it is able today to meet a demand for 100 MW - One MW represents about 6'000 square meters - expected to grow to 200 MW by the end of 2016," added Hanbali.
Globally, the photovoltaic market has grown 40 per cent year-on-year and the number of installations foreseen for 2015 is 160 GW - approximately 800 million square meters of glass. The share of BIPV for rooftops and facades, one of the specialisations of Emirates Insolaire, is witnessing one of the fastest growth rates.
KromatixTM solar panels can supply between 20 per cent and 60 per cent of the needed energy for a building. For certain industries with large roof and façades, this can go up to 100 per cent.
- sandhya@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai