By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has reviewed progress at the 950 megawatt (MW) fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This phase uses the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model with investments totalling AED 15.78 billion. It provides clean energy for approximately 320,000 residences and reduces carbon emissions by 1.6 million tonnes annually.
The 4th phase of the Solar Park, which was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in December 2023, is the largest investment project that uses three hybrid technologies: 600MW from a parabolic basin complex, 100MW from the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) tower, and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels. The project features the tallest solar tower in the world at 263.126 metre, and the largest thermal energy storage capacity with a capacity of 5,907 megawatt hours (MWh), according to the Guinness World Records.
Al Tayer was accompanied by Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, and other DEWA officials.
Al Tayer was briefed by ‘Noor Energy 1’ officials about the fourth phase, which is the largest single-site project in the world that combines CSP and photovoltaic technologies. It is the largest solar energy storage project in the world, allowing for the availability of solar energy round the clock. The 4th phase included the installation of more than 790,000 photovoltaic solar panels and more than 63,600 parabolic trough collectors (PT). The project integrates 70,000 mirrors (heliostats) that track the sun’s movement.
A consortium led by DEWA and Saudi Arabi’s ACWA Power established ‘Noor Energy 1’ as a project company to design, build, and operate the 4th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. DEWA holds a 51% stake in the company, ACWA Power holds 25%, and the Chinese Silk Road Fund owns 24%.
The fourth phase of the solar park supports DEWA’s efforts to increase the share of renewable and clean energy and energy storage. DEWA is implementing other energy storage projects, including the 250MW pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta, with a storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt hours, and the Green Hydrogen project that produces and stores hydrogen using solar energy.
