According to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), the work on Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is progressing as per plan enhancing clean energy share in Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s total power generation to achieve 14 per cent by the end of 2022.
H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) scrutinized the work advancement at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. It is the largest single-site solar park in the world with a planned total capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030. The Solar Park’s projects represent one of the crucial pillars of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy to deliver 100% of Dubai’s overall power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
The Shuaa Energy 3 representatives briefed Al Tayer on the advancement made in the second and third projects of the fifth phase of the single-site solar park. Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Business Development and Excellence at Dewa, and the project’s team were present. In 2019 DEWA attained a world record by obtaining the lowest bid of USD 1.6953 cents per kilowatt hour (Levelised cost of energy) for this stage. The fifth phase will be executed by Shuaa Energy 3, created by DEWA which owns 60 percent of the shares and the consortium led by ACWA Power and Gulf Investment Corporation which owns 40% of the rest of the shares by employing the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.
The 2nd project is 93.3 percent complete and the 3rd project is 23.06 percent complete while work in the 900MW 5th phase with investments totalling AED 2.058 billion is progressing as premeditated.
The fifth phase is being implemented using the state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic bifacial technologies, which allows solar radiation to get to the front and back of the panels, with single axis tracking to improve generation. Using fully automated robots to clean the solar panels without any human involvement, will increase efficiency. Since its commercial operations the previous year, the 1st project whose production capacity has expanded from 300MW to 330MW, has been recording higher-than-envisaged performance.
The fifth phase would deliver clean energy to over 270,000 residences in Dubai and would decrease 1.18 million tonnes of carbon emissions per annum. It will be authorised in stages until 2023.
Fourth phase advancement of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, Dubai
The work advancement of 950MW fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park was scrutinised by Al Tayer. The fourth phase utilizes the IPP model with investments up to AED 15.78 billion. Noor Energy 1 officials briefed him on the work progress in the 4th phase, which is the largest single-site project that combines Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and photovoltaic technology using the IPP model. The overall construction of the world’s largest project is 90% complete.
A consortium headed by DEWA and ACWA Power formed a project establishment, Noor Energy 1, to design, build, and operate the 4th phase of the Solar Park. DEWA possesses 51%, while ACWA Power holds 25%, and the Chinese Silk Road Fund holds 24% of the company.
The fourth phase of the Solar Park utilizes three hybrid technologies to produce clean energy:
- 600MW from a parabolic basin complex (200MW each of three units),
- 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels,
- 100MW from the ecosphere’s biggest solar power tower at 262.44 metres, based on Molten Salt technology.
On its completion, the project will have the major thermal storage capacity in the world, allowing for energy ease of use round the clock. The 4th phase would reduce 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year and delivering clean energy for around 320,000 residences.
The current capacity using solar photovoltaic panels at the Solar Park is 1,627MW. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is implementing additional projects with a total capacity of 1,233MW using solar photovoltaic/concentrated solar power (PV/CSP).
DEWA’s installed capacity has touched 14,117 MW of electricity. Clean energy share in Dubai has achieved 11.5% and is projected to range 14% by the end of 2022.