Gulf News

Dubai launches world’s largest solar project

DH14.2B CONCENTRAT­ED SOLAR POWER PLANT WILL HAVE 700MW CAPACITY

- Staff Report

Dubai will build the world’s largest concentrat­ed solar power (CSP) project at a cost of Dh14.2 billion that will generate 700 megawatts when completed, state news agency Wam reported yesterday.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the project yesterday.

The largest single-site project will be implemente­d by the Dubai Electricit­y and Water Authority (Dewa) using the

Independen­t Power Producer model. The model will include the tallest solar tower in the world, standing at 260 metres. The contract of the project was awarded to a consortium that includes Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power and Shanghai Electric.

Shaikh Mohammad said: “We have made steady progress

in realising the goals of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 that was launched as part of our objective to transform Dubai into a global clean energy and green economy hub. The carbon footprint of Dubai will be the lowest in the world by 2030.”

The world’s largest concentrat­ed solar power (CSP) project, costing Dh14.2 billion, will be implemente­d in Dubai, state news agency WAM reported yesterday.

To be implemente­d by Dubai Water and Electricit­y Authority (Dewa), the largest singlesite project will generate 700 megawatts (MW) of power when completed. Using the Independen­t Power Producer (IPP) model, it will include the world’s tallest solar tower, standing 260 metres tall, and a Dh100-billion fund to finance the plan.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the project yesterday.

A total of Dh500 million will be allocated, as part of the project, for research and developmen­t works in the field of smart networks and improvemen­t of energy efficiency over the course of the coming period.

The project comes as part of implementi­ng the fourth stage of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and to support the end goals of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050.

Commenting on the project, Shaikh Mohammad said: “The UAE has succeeded in building a global green economy model based on the environmen­tal sustainabi­lity and clean energy and supported by clear plans. These plans will contribute to strengthen­ing the foundation­s of such a model and developing it according to the world’s finest standards.

“Implementi­ng the world’s largest CSP project reaffirms the UAE leadership’s commitment to renewable clean energy and enhances our status at the forefront of the most advanced countries in this field. We are pressing ahead with carrying out projects that support the UAE’s comprehens­ive developmen­t and our aspiration­s that we have set for the future and are being implemente­d today.

“We are steadily moving towards achieving Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 goals, which we have launched to turn Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy and have the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050. We are very proud to see our goals turning into tangible achievemen­ts by our national cadres who proved their efficiency and excellence in various fields.”

Dewa said that it has awarded the contract for the constructi­on of the CSP project using the IPP model with a consortium that includes Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power and China’s Shanghai Electric. It has also guaranteed to achieve the lowest cost price of energy with 7.3 US cents per kilowatt.

Dewa is also working to sign an energy purchase agreement and putting in place all necessary arrangemen­ts for the CSP project, which will be implemente­d in the last quarter of 2020.

Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa, said: “Awarding this strategic project comes in line with Shaikh Mohammad’s vision aiming to boosting the sustainabi­lity and turning Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy through Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to provide seven per cent of Dubai’s power through clean energy by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050.”

 ?? WAM ?? Shaikh Mohammad launching the concentrat­ed solar power project in Dubai yesterday.
WAM Shaikh Mohammad launching the concentrat­ed solar power project in Dubai yesterday.
 ?? WAM ?? Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum being briefed about the concentrat­ed solar power project by Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer as other officials look on in Dubai yesterday.
WAM Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum being briefed about the concentrat­ed solar power project by Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer as other officials look on in Dubai yesterday.
 ?? Photos: WAM ?? A model of the concentrat­ed solar power project and (below) a model of the world’s tallest solar tower planned at the site. The project will support the end goals of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050.
Photos: WAM A model of the concentrat­ed solar power project and (below) a model of the world’s tallest solar tower planned at the site. The project will support the end goals of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050.
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