As per the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Supreme Council Member & Ruler of Sharjah to render highly sophisticated services to the Low-cost Houses areas across the Emirate, Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority has successfully managed to commission an integrated solar street lighting project to lighten up several streets and roads at four Low-cost Houses areas including Bin Dahyan, Tal Za’afran area, Tahil Low-cost Houses area, Nazawa and Al Zubaida. Under the project, about 250 lampposts were installed and powered with the solar energy in par with the latest global standards and specifications.

Commenting on the project, H.E Dr. Rashid Al Leem, the Chairman of Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority announced that SEWA is currently working on scheduled plan to replace the traditional street lighting with solar powered system at all roads and streets of the emirate as per the farsighted instruction of His Highness the Ruler.

H.E Dr. Rashid Al Leem pointed out that SEWA is working on replacing all the streets lights with solar lights that will help in saving power. The execution of the project will help in reducing traffic accidents that were caused due to poor visibility. He said the lights also contributed in beautifying the residential area and also ensuring safety and security for residents. The solar lighting projects will be implemented in in most parts of the Emirate particularly on highways and residential areas.

He added that the project was executed under vision of Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority to transform Sharjah into one of the smartest cities in the world with sustainable development and the installation of solar street lights in a major stretch of the city’s outskirts. IN comparison to electrical energy, which requires a complex infrastructure, solar panel installation involves a simple technical process for providing sustainable solutions.

The move supports SEWA’s sustainable development strategy and its efforts to implement the rational use of energy and water, spread awareness on saving the environment, and conserve resources for generations to come.

He indicated that SEWA has adopted an integrated strategy to install solar powered lampposts at low-cost houses, remote areas and farms throughout the Emirate of Sharjah and replace the tradition bulbs with saving LED bulbs to ensure the maintenance of the environment and the achievement of the sustainability.

SEWA's strives to realize the dream of crowning Sharjah as the first City of Conservation in the region to constitute an integral part to its on-going development process and its civilized mission in a bid to promote Sharjah's regional and international image to take a lead in sustainability and environment.

"It is recognition of SEWA that preserving our energy resources will be one of the greatest challenges in our drive towards sustainable development. We have been always pioneering in meeting customer satisfaction and promoting Sharjah's vision by providing electricity and water services at a world-class level of reliability, efficiency, safety and environment by a competent workforce and effective partnerships; supporting resources sustainability," Dr. Alleem said.

On his part Mr. Hassan Al Ali, the Manager of the Logistics SEWA Department said that the solar powered street lighting projects recently undertaken by SEWA has covered the streets and highways at most parts of the Emirate particularly the low-cost houses areas. Such projects are designed to ease the traffic and ensure the security and safety of the people.

He announced that SEWA has recently installed 250 solar powered lamppost out of which140 in Tahil Low-cost Houses area,  94 in Bin Dahyan - Tal Za’afran area, 110 in Al Zubaida, and 6 lampposts in Nazawa .

He said panels made up of photovoltaic cells, which get charged during the day by absorbing sunlight, and illuminate the community by night, is economic, requiring occasional maintenance. Solar power is in abundance within the UAE.