H.H. Sheikh Mohammed launches new phase of massive solar plant

A new phase of the largest single-site solar park in the world has been launched in Dubai.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has inaugurated the 300 megawatt (MW) first stage of the 900MW fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

The project's total capacity is expected to reach 5,000MW by 2030.

It's one of the key pillars of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to provide 75 per cent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.

According to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the fifth phase investments amount to AED 2.058 billion.

Sheikh Mohammed also launched a project to study the feasibility of generating electricity by utilising wind energy in Hatta.

Based on field visits and available preliminary data on wind in Hatta, DEWA has identified the location for a wind farm with a total capacity of about 28MW.

Actual wind speed for a full year is currently being measured at the location using a 150-metre metal tower.

The purpose is to collect accurate data and study the total capacity of the power plant as well as other technical details in terms of the number of turbines, capacity of each, annual operating hours, among other things.

.@HHShkMohd inaugurates 300MW first stage of the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. #Dubai pic.twitter.com/XIT5PNZjJp

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 17, 2021

. @HHShkMohd inaugurates 300MW first stage of the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park https://t.co/O7nMy29YQe pic.twitter.com/9BhaL50ZDl

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 17, 2021

In November 2019, DEWA announced the consortium led by ACWA Power and Gulf Investment Corporation as the Preferred Bidder to build and operate the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park using photovoltaic (PV) solar panels based on the IPP model.

DEWA achieved a world record by receiving the lowest bid of USD1.6953 cents per kilowatt hour (Levelised Cost of Energy) for this phase.

A total of 60 Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) were received from international developers.