The AED1.2bn ($326.6m) second phase of the solar park has been developed by the consortium of ACWA Power and TSK, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.
Capable of generating clean energy from 2.3 million photovoltaic solar panels, the 200MW solar project will help power 50,000 residences in Dubai while reducing 214,000t of CO2 emissions annually.
DEWA CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said: “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.”
Planned to be completed by 2030, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park is estimated to cost $13.6bn. The project is expected to help in cutting down CO2 emissions of about 6.5 million tons per annum.
Al Tayer added: “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 USD 5.6 cents per kilowatt hour.”
The solar project is part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to generate 7% of total power from clean energy sources by 2020. The target will increase to 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050.
First Solar developed the 13MW first phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum project.
Image: Officials during the inauguration of second phase of the planned Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. Photo: courtesy of Acwa Power.
