Netz Energy · Published
A roof area or a row of parking bays is the start of a feasibility question, not a system specification. Solar generation and EV charging must fit the asset’s electrical infrastructure, operating pattern and ownership arrangements. This checklist helps UAE developers and asset owners prepare a brief before requesting comparable technical and commercial proposals.
1. Define who uses the energy and the charging service
For PV, identify the electricity account, the load served and the party receiving the benefit. For EV charging, distinguish residents, employees, visitors and fleet vehicles. Their arrival times, dwell times and required energy differ. Decide who will operate the service and handle maintenance, access and user support.
Model the two projects both separately and together. A daytime solar profile does not automatically match evening charging. Do not count the same generated electricity as both on-site consumption and export revenue.
2. Check physical and electrical constraints
Obtain a site assessment by the appropriate specialists before selecting capacity. Usable roof area depends on structural suitability, shading, equipment, fire access and maintenance routes. Car parks introduce cable routes, pedestrian access, vehicle protection and potentially civil works.
- Roof drawings, condition, structural information and expected refurbishment dates.
- Electricity bills, interval demand data and planned future loads.
- Single-line diagrams, supply capacity and available switchgear information.
- Parking use, dwell times, charger access and cable-route constraints.
- Ownership, lease duration and responsibility for reinstatement or replacement.
3. Confirm the connection and approval route
Identify the emirate, distribution utility and relevant authorities for the actual site. DEWA’s Shams Dubai programme concerns solar systems connected to its network; it should not be assumed to govern a project elsewhere in the UAE. Its published guidance describes the involvement of enrolled consultants or contractors and the connection process.
Confirm current project-specific conditions before finalising design or procurement, including the permitted connection arrangement and any requirements for charging infrastructure. List the approvals, submission responsibilities and dependencies in the programme. A feasibility study does not itself grant an approval or establish a consultant’s regulatory registration.
4. Compare the full operating case
Use a common set of assumptions for generation, demand, tariff treatment and operating hours. Include installation, connection, maintenance, cleaning, replacement and operating costs where relevant. For charging, compare utilisation scenarios and load-management strategies instead of assuming every bay charges at full rated power continuously.
Show sensitivity to the assumptions that change the decision. Request a clear separation between an engineering estimate, a supplier warranty and any contractual performance commitment. Check which party owns the equipment and data under each commercial model.
5. Define acceptance and future operation
Before awarding the work, agree design responsibilities, test requirements, documentation, operator training and the process for resolving defects. Specify the information needed to monitor generation or charging availability after handover. If future expansion is planned, record what the first phase must reserve and what will require a new capacity review.