The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced that the fifth phase of Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park had commenced operations. It is the world’s largest solar park on a single site developed as an independent power producer model.
The DEWA said that operations have begun for the 200MW from the 900 MW of the 5th phase of the solar park. With this, the current production capacity of the solar park has escalated to 2,327 MW using photovoltaic solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies.
The mega project accounts for over 15 percent of the emirate’s energy production capacity. This phase of the solar park is set to provide renewable energy to over 2,70,000 local residences in Dubai. However, it is also likely to have carbon emissions up to 1.18 million tonnes annually.
“DEWA is implementing several projects in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, with investments totaling AED 50 billion. When completed, the solar park will reduce more than 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually,” Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO & MD of DEWA.
Dubai has already made a target of going net zero by 2050. In 2020, DEWA was reported to have achieved a world record by receiving the lowest bid (levelised cost) of USD 1.6953 cents per kWh for the 900MW fifth phase of the solar park. The 6th phase will likely become operational between 2024 and 2026.
