LET THERE BE MORE SOLAR LIGHT IN UAE
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurates the first 200MW stage of the 800MW third phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai on Tuesday. —
dubai — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the first 200MW stage of the 800MW third phase of the world’s largest single-site solar park. This would be powering 60,000 homes with clean energy,
With the opening of the first stage of the third phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park, four per cent of Dubai’s total installed capacity will be from clean energy. While Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy is looking to have seven per cent of its total power output from clean energy sources by 2020, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) officials confirm the target will be exceeded.
The 200MW phase, co-developed by Dewa and Masdar, consists of 800,000 solar cells with self-cleaning functions that came to life after 2.4 million accidentfree working hours. It will help reduce over 270,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa, said while the first 200MW stage has been launched, the remaining 600MW will be implemented in two stages by 2020. The next 300MW is expected to be launched during the first quarter of next year.
“This is the first project of its kind in the Mena region where an advanced system is installed to track the sun, using the latest technology,” Al Tayer said.
The third phase achieved a world record low tariff of $2.99 cents per kilowatt under a competitive bidding process. It is part of the overall Dh50-billion park, based on IPP model, with a planned total production capacity of 1,000MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by 2030.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park will reduce over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually and will power 800,000 homes by 2030.
Al Tayer added that Dubai’s ongoing solar projects using Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Inde- pendent IPP constitute to 1,500MW under construction. Of the solar park, 1,000MW will be operated by CSP Model, among which 700MW was launched in March as part of the park’s fourth phase.
Speaking during the ceremony, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State and chairman of Masdar, said according to Irena studies, the cost
We moved from a region that relies on traditional energy, to people who are now contributing to the quick development of renewable energy.” Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State and chairman of Masdar
of electricity generated by solar power has been reduced by 60 per cent between 2010 and 2016.
“Of the different renewable energy sources, solar power remains with highest value in our region, given the presence of sunlight throughout the year that achieves the demand, especially during peak times,” said Al Jaber.
He added that renewable energy will open up new opportunities and encourage innovation, especially with big projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. “We moved
This is the first project of its kind in the Mena region where an advanced system is installed to track the sun, using the latest technology.”
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa
from a region that relies on traditional energy, to people who are now contributing to the quick development of renewable energy,” said Al Jaber.
In March 2017, the 200MW second phase of the park was launched to power 50,000 houses. The park’s 13MW first phase was launched on October 2013. The project generates over 28 million KwH of electricity annually and has decreased carbon emissions by 15,000 tonnes a year.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com