The 200MW second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park was inaugurated today by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, said, ?Our success in completing this phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which will generate 200 megawatts of clean energy ahead of schedule, is a direct result of the unlimited support of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is one of the major projects that DEWA implements to achieve this promising strategy. It is the largest single-site solar park in the world, based on the IPP model, with a planned capacity of 1,000MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by 2030, with a total investment of US$13.61bn.
This phase of the solar park is the first and largest solar energy project in the region, based on the independent power producer (IPP) model. It was accomplished through a partnership between Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and the consortium led by ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia, the main developer of the project, and TSK from Spain, the main contractor, with an investment of US$326.6mn.
This phase can generate clean energy for 50,000 residences in Dubai, and will reduce 214,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. This phase installed 2.3mn photovoltaic solar panels over 4.5 sq km with 1.5mn Safe Man Hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) during project execution. 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.
?The UAE?s strategies and investments are clear evidences that it is today leading international efforts in clean and renewable energy. The second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is a national landmark that will contribute to the happiness of society and generations to come, adds to the blessed progress of the UAE under the leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Al Tayer added, ?The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park reflects our commitment to build a better, brighter, and more sustainable future for generations to come. The significance of the solar park is not only in combining the efforts of the public and private sectors in solar energy, but also in hosting a Research & Development centre that will include a photovoltaic solar testing facility, which is set to become one of the largest in the region.
?The UAE?s interest in producing renewable energy has contributed to the decline of its global cost to competitive levels. This was clearly shown by DEWA setting a world record, obtaining the lowest price globally for the second phase of the solar park, at US$5.6 cents per kilowatt hour. DEWA set another world record with the lowest recorded bid being US$2.99 cents per kW/h for the 800MW third phase of the solar park. This demonstrates the promising future of clean energy.?
