Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the 5th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world.
The 5th phase has a capacity of 900 megawatt (MW) and is part of the ambitious planned project that will produce 5,000 MW of power for Dubai by the end of 2030.
Built at a cost of AED2 billion ($540 million) and based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, the 5th phase will provide clean energy to around 270,000 residences in Dubai. It will reduce 1.18 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. When fully operational, the AED50 billion ($13.6 billion) solar park is expected to reduce 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Sheikh Mohammed: Leading Dubai’s sustainable vision
Speaking at the occasion, Sheikh Mohammed said Dubai is resolute in its commitment to becoming one of the most sustainable cities in the world, with diverse initiatives.
“The UAE is at the forefront of global efforts to create a more sustainable future for all of humanity by taking concrete action to transition to renewable energies and combat climate change,” Sheikh Mohammed commented.
“In 2023, the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, and the year in which we are hosting COP28, we continue to place sustainability at the heart of our development plans and make new strides in shaping a truly environmentally friendly economy. The completion of the 5th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park takes us another major step closer to realising our vision for an economy fully powered by clean energy.
“Aligned with the UAE’s vision, Dubai has developed a clear strategy and pathway to achieve its targets of generating 25 percent of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050.
“The rapid progress of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park project is yet another example of our strong ethos of public-private partnerships. Such partnerships play a key role in driving sustainable economic development, building a world-class renewable energy infrastructure and creating a diverse environment-friendly energy mix in the emirate.”
DEWA has implemented the phase using the latest solar photovoltaic bifacial technologies with Single Axis Tracking to increase energy production and the plant’s efficiency.
The project features a partnership between DEWA (60 percent) and a consortium led by ACWA Power and Gulf Investment Corporation (40 percent) through Shuaa Energy 3. DEWA achieved a world record by receiving the lowest bid of $1.6953 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the 5th phase.
The total capacity of the solar energy projects commissioned at the solar park has reached 2,427MW from photovoltaic solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). DEWA has increased the share of clean energy in Dubai’s energy mix to about 16.3 percent of its total installed capacity, which has now reached 14,917 MW.
Sheikh Mohammed was welcomed at the solar park by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE); and Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, were present during the inauguration, along with several high-ranking official of Dubai government and industries.
Al Tayer added: “We continue to do our best to promote sustainability and transform into a sustainable green economy by increasing the share of clean and renewable energy.
“We have made rapid progress in achieving the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy to provide 100 percent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. To achieve these goals, we are implementing several projects at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
“We promise His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to continue our development projects to achieve his ambitious vision for this national project, which adds to the UAE’s success in moving steadily towards a sustainable future for current and future generations.”
Mohammad Abunayyan, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ACWA Power, added: “Today, we are delighted to celebrate yet another milestone with our long-standing partner Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, as we inaugurate the 5th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park ahead of schedule alongside our partners Gulf Investment Corporation and the EPC contractor Shanghai Electric.
“Our objective for Shuaa Energy 3 has been to achieve the highest technical and operational standards every step of the way, setting the record for the lowest solar tariff globally in 2020 and deploying advanced technologies such as bifacial solar panels and automatic cleaning robots.”
ACWA Power said it achieved zero Lost Time Injury (LTI) throughout the project construction.
The 5th phase is one of the first projects in the Middle East to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of an advanced robotic cleaning system for the operation and maintenance of photovoltaic panels. The total area of the 5th phase is approximately 10 square kilometres, which is half of the total area of the 800MW third phase.
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