Dubai Electricity & Water AUthority (DEWA) | Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park – Clean energy for a brighter future for generations to come

Despite being home to one of the largest oil reserves, the UAE prepared to bid farewell to the last barrel of oil, due to the vision of the wise leadership, which follows the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s approach towards sustainability and environmental protection. Today, the UAE leads international efforts in clean and renewable energy, as a result of its strategies and investments. The UAE’s National Agenda incorporates this vision to develop a sustainable environment, while increasing its use of clean and green development. The UAE has established itself as a pioneer in the international energy sector, and has already launched world-class projects to diversify energy resources, with a focus on solar energy.

The UAE’s wise leadership has worked tirelessly to anticipate the future, as a fundamental element of its strategies and plans. The vision of the UAE’s leadership, led by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, plays a key role in strategic planning, to ensure a brighter future for generations to come.

UAE Energy Strategy

The UAE Energy Strategy 2050 aims to develop an energy mix that combines renewable, nuclear and clean energy sources to balance economic requirements and environmental goals. By 2050, the UAE aims to invest AED 600 billion to meet the growing energy demand and ensure the sustainable growth of the country’s economy. The strategy also seeks to increase the efficiency of energy use by individuals and organisations by 40%, and achieve savings of AED 700 billion by 2050.

Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050

Dubai has become an international pioneer in the development of a number of techniques and practices to enhance the efficiency of the energy sector while rationalising consumption and finding alternative solutions to conventional energy. This supports the sustainable development of the Emirate. The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to provide 7% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2020. This target will increase to 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050. Dubai is the only city in the region to have launched such a promising strategy, with set goals and timelines that map the future of energy until 2050. The strategy consists of five main pillars: infrastructure, legislation, funding, building capacities and skills, and having an environmentally-friendly energy mix.

“We work according to the vision and guidance of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to promote Dubai as a global hub for clean energy, green economy, sustainability and innovation. DEWA is implementing several initiatives and projects in the fields of renewable energy, sustainability and the environment, notably the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world. The solar park offers a host of promising investment opportunities to strengthen partnerships and investments between the public and private sectors in the field of energy. The solar park’s projects are based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

The largest single-site solar park in the world

In January 2012, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. It is the largest single-site solar park in the world. The solar park will generate 1,000MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by 2030, with total investments worth up to AED 50 billion. Upon completion, the solar park will reduce over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

First Phase

The 13MW first phase became operational on 22 October 2013, and the project contributed to a major reduction of carbon emissions in adherence with the Clean Development Mechanism. The implementation of the first phase was an important step in achieving Dubai’s objectives to diversify energy resources. The first phase is built up of about 153,000 photovoltaic cells, connected to 13 transformers in inverter buildings. The output is transformed to 33 kilovolts (kV), and generates 24 million kWh of electricity annually. The first phase contributes to an annual reduction of about 15,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. The surface area of the project covers 280,000 square metres.

Second Phase

On 20 March 2017, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the 200MW second phase of the solar park. It is the largest and first project of its kind in the region’s solar energy sector, based on the IPP model. The project was implemented through a partnership with the consortium led by ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia, and TSK from Spain, with an investment of AED 1.2 billion. The project provides clean energy to 50,000 residences in the Emirate, reducing 214,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. This phase installed 2.3 million photovoltaic solar panels over an area of 4.5 square kilometres.

The efforts of Shuaa Energy 1, which was established by DEWA and the consortium led by ACWA Power and TSK, have been vital in completing the work efficiently and professionally, with 1.5 million Safe Man Hours without Lost Time Injury.

Third Phase

In June 2016, DEWA announced that the consortium led by Masdar was selected to build the 800MW third phase of the solar park. DEWA recorded a world record of USD 2.99 cents per kW/h for the IPP bid. The third phase will be implemented in stages until 2020.

Fourth Phase

In June 2016, and in adherence with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, DEWA announced that a CSP plant would be built at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The announcement was made due to the success achieved by Dubai in the field of photovoltaic solar power. On 4 October 2016, DEWA released a request for the Expression of Interest (EOI) for the CSP project. It received 32 Expressions of Interest (EOI) from international developers by the closing date of 27 October 2016. The Request for Proposals (RFP) was released to qualified bidders on 15 January 2017.

On 16 September 2017, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the 700MW AED14.2 billion fourth phase. On 19 March 2018, His Highness the broke the ground for this phase, which was awarded to a consortium comprising Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power, The Silk Road Fund and China’s Shanghai Electric. The consortium bid the lowest Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of USD 7.3 cents per kW/h. This is the largest single-site CSP project in the world, based on the IPP model. The project will have the world’s tallest solar tower, measuring 260 metres. The project will be commissioned in stages, starting from Q4 of 2020.

Research and Development Centre

It is currently under construction and will be completed by 2020. The R&D centre will focus on four key operations:

1. Producing electricity using solar power: Research, conducted in cooperation with international organisations, will focus on studying photovoltaic panels, and limiting the impact of dust to maintain their performance. It will also test their long-term capability and develop criteria and specifications that suit the local environment.

2. Integration of Smart Grids: DEWA will conduct research to develop models, and smart grid technologies and systems. These include studying loads, monitoring energy consumption, and the effect of new technologies on the grids.

3. Energy Efficiency: DEWA cooperates with partners and educational institutions all over the world, to invest in innovation and creativity, and to develop the next generation’s capabilities of using solar energy through many pioneering initiatives.

4. Water: DEWA is working to develop sustainable solutions to desalinate and purify water using solar energy. DEWA also aims to develop technology to produce drinking water, by collecting humidity from the air.

Solar testing facility

The solar park will feature two solar testing facilities: the first will specialise in testing photovoltaic solar panels, while the second will focus on CSP. The facility is currently testing 30 photovoltaic panel types from global specialist manufacturers to check the properties, analyse the results, and use them in research and development. It collaborates with international organisations on soiling and dust mitigation on photovoltaic equipment. The solar testing facility will focus on mitigating the effects of dust, understanding the physical and chemical properties of dust, testing new methods, understanding the effects of dust on photovoltaic panels, establishing challenges, enhancing reliability and performance, and developing technology to withstand the weather conditions of the region.

Solar powered water pumping and desalination plant

The solar-powered water pumping and desalination station at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park use photovoltaic solar panels to desalinate water with Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology, with a production capacity of 50 cubic metres (around 11,000 gallons) a day. The project is in cooperation with the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, to provide clean and safe drinking water for people in needy countries, through funding and supporting water technology projects to combat drought.

Innovation Centre

DEWA is working to develop an Innovation Centre, equipped with the latest renewable and clean energy technologies. Through this, DEWA aims to raise awareness on sustainability, while enhancing national capabilities and increasing competitiveness. DEWA’s Innovation Centre will comprise four stories in addition to a ground floor, standing 90 metres tall. The Innovation Centre will be equipped with the latest clean and renewable energy technologies, and will serve as a museum and exhibition for solar energy.

Global interest in the solar park

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park has seen considerable interest from international developers since its launch. DEWA has also received a number of Expressions of Interest (EoI) from international organisations. This reflects the confidence of international investors in the projects that are supported by Dubai Government. Many global developers have expressed their desire to invest in development and implementation of the solar park, which contributes to providing promising opportunities in Dubai.

Global certificates & awards

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park contributed to DEWA winning the Best Sustainable Project of the Year in the UAE at the 2014 MEED Quality Awards. This is the first time this award was given to a renewable energy project in the region. DEWA also won an award for Distinguished Technical Project, for phase 1 of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park at the 18th Dubai Government Excellence Programme Awards (DGEP). Shuaa Energy 1, founded by DEWA in cooperation with the consortium led by ACWA Power and TSK, won three awards for the second project of the solar park: the Solar Project deal of the Year from the IGI Global journal, the MESIA Utility-Scale Solar Project of the Year from the Middle East Solar Industry Association, and the Private Finance Deal of the Year at the Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards 2015.