Abu Dhabi extends solar self-supply policy to residents

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The UAE capital is expanding its solar self-supply policy to the residential sector, after first launching for the agricultural sector in February.</span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Abu Dhabi’s Department of Energy (DoE) is launching the second phase of the city’s solar energy self-supply policy, expanding to the residential sector for the first time. </span></p></blockquote>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The policy, which gives customers across </span><a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/region/united-arab-emirates/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the UAE</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> capital the option to adopt solar for self-consumption, was first </span><a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/02/09/abu-dhabi-unveils-solar-plus-storage-self-supply-policy/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">unveiled in February</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, with the first phase targeting the agricultural sector. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The updated policy now allows villa owners and eligible residential buildings to generate and store electricity from rooftop solar systems, either with or without connected battery energy storage systems. It forms part of the DoE’s mandate to promote the adoption of smart and flexible solutions for energy production and consumption.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An update from DOE explains the policy expansion aligns with national objectives to meet increasing demand for energy through advanced solutions serving all sectors. It adds that the new phase will also focus on implementing a simplified regulatory framework that streamlines installation and grid connection procedures.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Obaidli, DoE’s Director-General of Regulatory Affairs, said extension to the residential sector will enhance energy consumption efficiency and support the integration of the power system.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The UAE added </span><a href="https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/03/18/uae-installs-around-1-gw-of-solar-in-2025/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">around 1 GW</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of solar in 2025, taking cumulative capacity to approximately 6.7 GW, with current deployments dominated by utility-scale installations. Forecasts from GlobalData expect the country’s total solar capacity to reach 20 GW by the end of the decade. </span></p>