His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, visited the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority?s (DEWA) Innovation Centre and the third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park top open the facilities
The four-storey DEWA Innovation Centre, covering 4,355 sq m, houses an auditorium for events, conferences, and training programmes on solar power, renewable energy, and other green initiatives. The facility is the first and largest government centre to receive the ?Done by Youth? seal from the Federal Youth Authority and its research on solar power will support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to diversify the energy mix and provide 75% of Dubai?s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
During the visit, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also inaugurated the 800MW third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. DEWA built the third phase using the IPP model in partnership with a consortium led by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and EDF Group, through its subsidiary EDF ?nergies Nouvelles. The third phase provides clean energy for more than 240,000 residences in Dubai. The total capacity of operational projects at the Solar Park, which use photovoltaic solar panels, is 1,013MW.
DEWA is also creating an additional capacity of 1,850MW using solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), in addition to future phases to reach 5,000MW by 2030. With the inauguration of the third phase, the share of clean energy in Dubai?s total power output has increased to 9%. This exceeds the target of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 7% of power from clean energy by 2020.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum concluded his tour by visiting the 950MW fourth phase of the solar park, the world?s largest CSP project, being developed at an investment of using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. The fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park combines CSP with photovoltaic solar panels and will provide clean energy for 320,000 residences as well as reducing 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year. The project features the world?s tallest solar power tower that will be 262.44 m high.
?Inspired by the vision of the UAE leadership, the inauguration of the third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park marks a significant milestone in the journey towards achieving the UAE?s target of having 50% of its power coming from clean energy by 2050,? said HE Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, minister of industry and advanced technology and chairman of Masdar.
?As the UAE prepares for ?The Next 50 Years?, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will further strengthen the country?s position as a global leader in cost competitive renewable energy. This project is a prime example of how Masdar and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority are utilising the latest advances in clean energy technology to drive cost efficiencies and maximise return on investment,? Al Jaber added
Bruno Bensasson, chairman and chief executive officer of EDF Renewables and EDF group senior executive vice president of Renewable Energies, commented, ?It is a great honour for EDF Group to be part of one of the world?s largest solar projects. For the EDF Renewables team, the 800MW third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park represents a fantastic accomplishment, alongside our long-term partner Masdar. It clearly demonstrates our strong solar expertise and global experience in renewables. It also perfectly fits into the EDF Group?s ambitions to contribute to the UAE?s efforts to mitigate climate change using low-carbon energies.?
