Solar energy might be used in Dubai World Island project
DUBAI — The ongoing World project might use solar air-conditioning and solar lighting in some of its “islands” if the new technology launched at Dubai Techno Park yesterday proves to be efficient and beneficial for the development, a top Nakheel official said.
Speaking at the launch of the Dh50 million Pacific Controls Systems green building at Dubai Techno Park, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), and Chairman of Nakheel, said: “The solar energy in a limited way has been used in this area for the past 25 years, but only when it was needed.
In our World project the energy is a problem. We are using diesel. If the new technology brought by Pacific Controls Systems proves to be saving energy, we are ready to utilise it in some of the islands within our World project.”
Bin Sulayem also predicted that rents, which of late have been skyrocketing in Dubai, will eventually come down. He said: “Some 40,000 apartments and villas are being built in Dubai. The Discovery Gardens and the Lost City will be ready in two years’ time and the Gardens shopping mall will open in a month’ time. Rents have to come down (because) it is not good for the Dubai economy.”
“Some say that it is bubble. There is no bubble. (Even if there is) bubble is also good. Prices will come down, properties will be cheaper. It won’t be bad,” he said, referring to the fact that Dubai’s investment in numerous commercial clusters has been sparking some concerns recently that a real estate bubble may be inflating and that commercial property over-capacity will become a serious problem.
Meanwhile, the new facility, which will spread across 200,000 square feet within Techno Park, with a total investment of Dh50 million that will be made over the next three years, will also serve as the new regional headquarters of Pacific Controls.
According to Dilip Rahulan, chairman and chief executive officer of Pacific Controls Systems, the new facility, which will be the first green building in Dubai, with solar air-conditioning and solar lighting, will open its doors in mid December.
Abdulla Ahmed Al-Qurashi, chief executive officer of Dubai Techno Park, said that the park has so far approved over 70 companies, while it is still negotiating with another 500 willing to set up operations in its various clusters.
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