Solar power plant control: PPC, DEWA D33 and Shams Dubai
Power plant controllers that meet DEWA's D33 requirements, rooftop solar to Shams Dubai standards, and the SCADA, battery and hybrid control around them.
D33-ready solar plants, with the controller DEWA requires
DEWA's D33 Solar PV Initiative lets eligible industrial companies, agri-tech enterprises and data centres in Dubai build captive solar up to their maximum demand. Every D33 plant needs a power plant controller that DEWA can command.
Who it is for
Industrial companies, agri-tech enterprises and data centres holding a D33 eligibility certificate, issued jointly by DET, the Department of Finance and DEWA and valid for 10 years.
What it allows
Captive solar PV up to the site's maximum demand, in addition to what Shams Dubai allows, under DEWA's D33 Industry Friendly Power Policy.
Connection
Plants with a maximum continuous active power above 0.4 MW connect to the MV network, following DEWA's DRRG plant segmentation.
Plant control
A power plant controller is mandatory, and the D33 monitoring and control specification applies in place of the general DRRG monitoring requirements.
One controller makes the whole PV plant respond as a single unit at the point of connection.
Active power changes limited to 10 % of the plant's installed capacity per minute.
Units above 400 kW on the MV network provide reactive power across a semi-circular P-Q capability curve.
Set-points and commands from DEWA control centres, with plant measurements returned for monitoring.
Ramp-rate control, illustrated
Illustrative only. The plant follows a DEWA set-point change at 10 % of installed capacity per minute.
What DIS delivers for D33
- Compliance review of the single-line diagram, inverters and protection against the D33 documents
- PPC design, configuration and factory testing on Inavitas, Siemens SICAM A8000 or Allen-Bradley ControlLogix
- Interface to the DEWA control centre, revenue metering and the plant SCADA
- Ramp-rate, curtailment and reactive power tests at commissioning, with signed records
- Compliance documents and support through DEWA inspection and energisation
Summarised from DEWA's D33 Solar PV Initiative documents, including the D33 Monitoring and Control Requirements and the D33 Connection Conditions (V1.1, November 2025). DEWA's published documents prevail.
One controller for PV, batteries and generators
The PPC sits between the grid operator and the plant. It reads the point of connection, then commands inverters, battery storage and generators so the whole site behaves as one unit to the grid code.
Active power control
Export limits, curtailment and ramp rates at the point of connection.
Reactive power and voltage
Q, power factor and voltage control modes to the grid code.
Frequency response
Active power reduction during over-frequency events.
Battery coordination
Smoothing, firming, time shifting and peak shaving with BESS.
Hybrid with generators
Minimum genset loading and fuel saving for camps and off-grid sites.
Data and reporting
Historian, availability and performance ratio reports for the owner.
Controller platforms
Rooftop solar on homes, buildings and facilities
Shams Dubai is DEWA's net-metering programme: owners install rooftop solar, use the energy on site and export the surplus to the DEWA grid. We deliver it with DOME Group's solar EPC company, a DEWA-approved solar contractor.
Survey and design
Roof survey, shading and yield study, and design to DEWA DRRG standards and connection guidelines.
DEWA approval
Design submission through a DEWA-enrolled solar contractor, with inverters and protection from DEWA's approved lists.
Installation
Modules, mounting, inverters, DC and AC protection, earthing and cabling.
Inspection and connection
DEWA inspection and testing, net meter installation and connection to the grid.
Monitoring and O&M
Inverter monitoring, module cleaning, preventive maintenance and performance reports.
Solar, storage and hybrid projects
Delivered, in progress and currently tendering, from 2 MWp hybrid sites to a 120 MWp solar plant.
Solar capabilities- 40 MW hybrid solar plant: SCADA, CCTV, communications and electrical worksATGC / GSU, Mocha, Yemen, 2025-2026In progress
- Two power plants, TCF and camp: SCADA and power managementADNOC / Tecnimont, Hail and Ghasha development, UAE, 2024-2025Completed
- 120 MWp solar plant: MV cable terminationsMasdar / EMC, Aden, Yemen, 2024Completed
- On-grid PMS: 2.2 MWp PV, 1.5 MW battery and three gensetsDome Advanced Electromechanical Works, UAE, 2026In progress
- Solar plant with battery storage: SCADAUTICO / Yellow Door Energy, UAE, 2024-2025In progress
- LiDAR wind monitoring: power, fibre and SCADA integrationSolar park developer's contractor, Dubai, UAE, 2026Proposal
- Solar PV with battery storage for two island sites, 122 kWp and 248 kWpEngineering contractor, UAE, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2026Proposal
- Solar borehole pumping for 28 wells with remote monitoringAbu Dhabi well fields operator, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2026Proposal
Planning a D33 or Shams Dubai solar plant?
Send the single-line diagram and inverter list. We will check them against DEWA's requirements and propose the PPC.