The Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) has invited bids for the construction of 800MW phase III of $3.3bn Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
The project will be commissioned in a phased manner, starting 2018.
DEWA will purchase the clean power generated at the solar plant, under a long term power purchase agreement.
Meanwhile, the government-owned utility has commenced construction on 400/132kV substation at the solar park.
The substation is being constructed at a cost of around AED250m ($68.04m).
This project includes the supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the substation with four 400kV cables.
The substation has three sections, of which the first includes a 400kV substation and 11 gas-insulated switchgears (GIS) and second section includes a 132kV substation with 21 GIS, while the third section is the control building.
DEWA has appointed Swiss engineering firm ABB to build the substation.
Upon completion in November 2016, the substation will connect the solar power generated from the 200MW phase II of the solar park to Dewa’s grid.
Earlier this year, ACWA Power secured contract to develop the phase II of the solar park alongside Spanish contractor TSK.
The second phase of the project will be based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model and is expected to become operational by April 2017.
First Solar constructed the 13MW phase I of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is expected to generate 3,000MW of clean power by 2030.
Image: DEWA MD & CEO HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer. Photo: courtesy of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.