NYU Abu Dhabi Delivers Sustainable Hot Water with Solahart Solar Solution

Detailed Case Study

Client: New York University – Abu Dhabi Campus (NYUAD)
Location: Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Education & Research

Challenge:
NYU Abu Dhabi required a sustainable solution to meet its large-scale hot water demand of 242,000 litres per day while avoiding overheating during summer, where temperatures regularly exceed 45°C. The system needed to serve classrooms, laboratories, student housing, and staff facilities across multiple buildings.

Solution:
Solahart collaborated with architects and engineers from the conceptual design stage in 2009. The system incorporated Solahart Drain Back technology to prevent overheating and ensure maximum efficiency year-round.

System Details:

• Hot Water Requirement: 242,000 litres/day at 60°C
• Solar Collectors: 916 x Solahart BT Collectors (1,832 m² total)
• Storage: 13 x Solahart 7000 DBe Heat Store II, 9 x 3500 DBe Heat Store II (136,000 litres total)
• Boosting: Electric
• Plant Rooms: 7, with 10 separate roof areas

Results:

• Energy Savings: 10,000 kWh per day
• Operational Benefits: Reliable performance in extreme desert heat
• Environmental Impact: Significant reduction in reliance on electrical heating