HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has inaugurated Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA’s) Innovation Centre and the 800MW third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world. With a planned total capacity of 5,000MW by 2030, the Park features an investment ofAED50 billion.
His Highness also visited the site of the 950MW fourth phase of the solar park, the world’s largest Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project, being developed at an investment of AED15.78 billion using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. The fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is also the world’s largest single-site investment project, combines CSP with photovoltaic solar panels. The project features the world’s tallest solar power tower that will be 262.44 metres high.
A global hub for renewable and clean energy innovation, DEWA’s Innovation Centre is expected to contribute to shaping the global future of sustainable energy. Through the Innovation Centre, DEWA aims to support innovation and creativity in clean and renewable energy, promote sustainability, develop talent and enhance the country’s competitive advantage in this sector. The Innovation Centre’s research on solar power will support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to diversify the energy mix and provide 75% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.The Innovation Centre received a platinum rating from LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) with 101 points out of a possible 110 in the first quarter of 2020, the highest score in the world for a new government building.
800MW third phase
The 800MW third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park was built by DEWA using the IPP model in partnership with a consortium led by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and EDF Group, through its subsidiary EDF Énergies Nouvelles at an investment of AED3.47 billion. The third phase provides clean energy for over 240,000 residences in Dubai. The facility is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region to use single axis solar tracking to increase energy generation. It also uses other innovative technologies including cleaning robots for photovoltaic panels to increase the plant’s efficiency.
The total capacity of operational projects at the Solar Park, which use photovoltaic solar panels, is 1,013MW. DEWA is creating an additional capacity of 1,850MW using solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), in addition to future phases to reach 5,000MW by 2030. With the inauguration of the third phase, the share of clean energy in Dubai’s total power output has increased to 9%. This exceeds the target of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 7% of power from clean energy by 2020.
The fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which combines CSP and photovoltaic technology based on the IPP model, is the largest single-site CSP project in the world. The 950MW project, featuring an investment of AED15.78 billion, has the world’s tallest solar power tower measuring 262.44 metres in height.
Clean Energy
The inauguration of the 800MW third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park supports Dubai’s target to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy and attract environmentally friendly investments through the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050.
DEWA has attracted AED40 billion in investments and enhanced public-private partnerships through the IPP model. By implementing the IPP model, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park projects have recorded the world’s lowest solar power prices five times in a row.
Fourth Phase
The fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park uses three hybrid technologies to produce clean energy: 600MW from a parabolic basin complex (three units of 200MW each), 100MW from a solar power tower (based on Molten Salt technology), and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels.
The project, which covers a total area of 44 square kilometres, has broken many world records, including the lowest Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of USD7.3 cents per kilowatt-hour (kW/h) for the 700MW CSP and USD2.4 cents per kW/h for the 250MW photovoltaic solar panels.
A consortium led by DEWA and Acwa Power has formed a project company, Noor Energy 1, to design, build, and operate the plant. DEWA owns 51% of the company while Acwa Power owns 25%and the Silk Road Fund 24%. The fourth phase will be operational in stages starting from Q3 2021.