In February 2026 Abu Dhabi introduced a landmark policy enabling solar PV and battery storage for self-supply, fundamentally reshaping how distributed solar projects will be developed, financed, and operated in the UAE. This is not a traditional net-metering. “Distributed Photovoltaic” or “DPV” refers to distributed photovoltaic generation systems installed behind the customer meter for self-supply, including where authorised, paired photovoltaic-plus-battery energy storage systems (PV+BESS). “Energy Net Metering” means any billing, settlement, or. The Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA) recently convened an industry discussion examining how Abu Dhabi's self-supply framework will impact distributed solar deployment, storage integration and future market design. Abu Dhabi's new solar self-supply framework signals something larger. The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy has introduced a policy designed to support deployment of solar systems for self-consumption, with the first phase of the policy targeting the agricultural sector.
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