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The solar power generating flower, a first of its kind initiative in the region, was opened by Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, in the presence of Ahmed Bin Bayat, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Dubai Holding, Assistants to the Director-General of Dubai Municipality, directors of departments and other officials of the Municipality.

The Smartflower, developed by an Austrian firm, is considered to be a ground-breaking and innovative solar panel with built-in sensors that allow for the flower-shaped device to automatically track the rays of sunlight and re-orient itself accordingly, which results in a much higher efficiency of up to 23 percent, and 60 percent self-utilization as compared to traditional roof-top solar systems.

It also has a highly developed weather adapting mechanism and its efficiency is not affected by the weather conditions of Dubai. A passive ventilation system has been integrated in the design of the Smartflower to ensure optimum efficiency during high temperatures.

Lootah said the Smartflower is in line with ideas of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, his Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has said that "through greater investment and innovation in a green economy, the country will achieve its objective to be the gold standard for sustainability worldwide."

Sheikh Mohammed had said that "Whoever does not think of energy is not thinking about the future" while launching the Emirates Energy Strategy 2050, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of consumption by 40 percent, raising the contribution of clean energy to 50 percent and a savings equivalent to AED700 billion by 2050.

Lootah said the Smartflower is also an initiative in line with Dubai Municipality’s vision of developing a happy and sustainable city. Talking about the benefits and technological innovations of the Smartflower, Lootah highlighted Dubai Municipality’s commitment to innovation and implementation of creative ideas in line with Dubai Government’s vision of becoming the world’s most innovative and sustainable city.

Khalid Sharif Al Awadhi, Assistant Director General for Environment, Health and Safety Control Sector said the Smartflower is considered to be one of the several initiatives launched by the Applied Sustainability and Renewable Energy Department of Dubai Municipality in 2017, along with the official launching of the Dubai Lamp, the world’s most efficient commercially-available LED lamp, which is expected to reduce energy consumption by 90 percent.

He added that Dubai Municipality continuously encourages and seeks to adopt innovative and creative products and initiatives that will better serve the citizens and residents of Dubai, and promote Dubai to be a global innovation hub in the field of sustainability and clean energy.