Dubai has inaugurated the 900 megawatt (MW) fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world with a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030.
The fifth phase of the project will provide clean energy to 270,000 residences in Dubai, reducing 1.18 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The AED2 billion project, implemented under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, involves a partnership between Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) (60%) and a consortium led by ACWA Power and Gulf Investment Corporation (40%) through Shuaa Energy 3.
The inauguration was officiated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
DEWA achieved a world record by receiving the lowest bid of $1.6953 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the fifth phase.
ACWA Power has worked on previous phases of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The 200MW photovoltaic second phase of the solar park developed by ACWA Power was launched in March 2017.
Meanwhile, a consortium led by DEWA and ACWA Power formed a project company, Noor Energy 1, to design, build and operate the 950MW fourth phase.
Featuring a total investment of AED50 billion, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is expected to reduce 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually when fully completed.
The fifth phase is one of the first projects in the Middle East to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of an advanced robotic cleaning system for the operation and maintenance of photovoltaic panels.
The total area of the fifth phase is approximately 10 square kilometres, which is half of the total area of the 800MW third phase.
The total capacity of the solar energy projects commissioned at the solar park has reached 2,427MW from photovoltaic solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). The total capacity of the projects under construction at the solar park is 433MW from CSP. DEWA has increased the share of clean energy in Dubai’s energy mix to about 16.3% of its total installed capacity, which has reached 14,917 MW.
Aligned with the UAE’s vision, Dubai has developed a clear strategy and pathway to achieve its targets of generating 25 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050.
