UAE’s Vice President and the Prime Minister and the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has inaugurated the 200MW first stage of the 800MW third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
Image: Dubai adds 200MW solar energy, increasing clean energy share to 4% of installed capacity. Photo: Courtesy of AETOSWire.
Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) is implementing the third phase under an independent power producer (IPP) model at levelised cost of energy of $0.29 per kilowatt hour.
The third phase is being developed in partnership with a consortium lead by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Électricité de France (EDF) Group.
The second and third stages of this phase will include 300MW capacity each and will be completed next year and in 2020, respectively.
DEWA managing director & CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer stated that this plant is the first in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to use single-axis solar tracking system, which increases energy efficiency by 20- 30%.
The solar plant includes more than 800,000 self-cleaning solar cells that are claimed to maintain high performance levels. With this project, about 60,000 residences will be supplied with clean energy, while reducing more than 270,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
This project is also claimed to have increased the share of clean energy to 4% of Dubai’s total installed capacity. Presently, there are 1.5GW of photovoltaic and concentrated solar power (CSP) under construction.
UAE Minister of State and Masdar chairman Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said: “Masdar and DEWA have played an active role in enhancing the cost efficiency and productivity of renewable energy by deploying the latest advances in technology.
“Solar power complements conventional energy in a relationship that makes perfect economic sense in this region, given the number of clear sunny days in the year, by helping to reduce energy costs through peak shaving.”
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park, which is claimed to be the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the IPP model, is expected to contribute to the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050.