Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | DEWA welcomes 26 students from NYU University Abu Dhabi at Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum Solar Park

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) received 26 students from New York University Abu Dhabi, at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The visit briefed students on the latest developments in clean and renewable energy, and Dubai’s plans to promote sustainability and move towards a green knowledge-based economy with a focus on innovation and creativity. This supports DEWA’s efforts to promote the development of knowledge among university students and prepare future leaders.

The students were briefed on the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. The solar park has a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030, at a total investment of AED 50 billion and will eventually save approximately 6.5 million tonnes per annum in carbon emissions.

DEWA attaches great importance to collaborating with educational institutions in the UAE to prepare generations capable of keeping pace with rapid global changes in various strategic sectors, especially in energy, as it is witnessing steady development and growth. This requires more focus on providing services according to the highest standards of quality, availability and reliability, while balancing the demand for these services and the preservation of the environment and natural resources. The solar park is one of DEWA’s major projects, aiming to promote sustainability in its environmental, social and economic dimensions by increasing reliance on clean energy and reducing Dubai's carbon footprint. This will transform Dubai into a global center for clean energy and green economy, to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide 7% of the Emirate’s energy from clean energy sources by 2020, 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050, and make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world.

DEWA was keen on briefing students on the different stages of this strategic and prominent project. The project’s 13MW photovoltaic first phase became operational in 2013. The 200MW photovoltaic second phase was launched in March 2017, with an investment of AED 1.2 billion. With 2.3 million photovoltaic solar panels installed over 4.5 square kilometres, this phase generates clean energy for 50,000 residences in Dubai, and will reduce 214,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

The students visited the photovoltaic and CSP testing facilities. The centre is currently testing over 30 photovoltaic panel types from global manufacturers to check their performance, analyse them, and test their long-term reliability in the local climate. The tests will set a baseline for the development of international specifications, tests and standards for photovoltaic equipment, and tackling the effects of dust soiling photovoltaic panels. The technical testing platforms include a building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) module, a multi-angle test unit for solar panels, a mono-axis solar tracker, and a bi-directional tracer. The results of these tests will enable DEWA to enhance the use of solar technology, and to understand its long-term reliability in the local climate.

At the end of the visit, the students received souvenirs. The visit highlights DEWA’s continued support for enhancing knowledge and developing education in the UAE, to create a bright future for future generations. This supports the objectives of the UAE Centennial 2071, which is a long-term government plan to prepare the UAE and young Emiratis for the future.