Dubai ruler opens 200MW expansion to solar park

UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has inaugurated the opening stage of the third phase of the emirate’s solar park.

Abu Dhabi clean energy firm Masdar has led the development of the project in a consortium with EDF Group.

Read: Masdar consortium closes financing for 800MW third phase of Dubai solar park

It boasts the lowest levelised cost of energy in the world of at 29 US cents per kilowatt hour, according to officials.

The first stage of the project will generate 200MW of power. Two further stages will add 300MW of capacity each in 2019 and 2020 for a total of 800MW.

“This solar plant is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, with an advanced solar tracking system to increase generation efficiency. It also uses unique technologies including over 800,000 self-cleaning solar cells that maintain a high-performance level,” said Dubai Electricity and Water Authority managing director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.

“The project has been implemented with over 2.4 million accident-free man-hours. It will provide over 60,000 residences with electricity, reducing over 270,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.”

Combined with a concentrated solar power fourth phase, under development by Shanghai Electric Generation Group and ACWA Power, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park will reach 1,500MW of solar power.

Read: Shanghai Electric signs Dubai thermo-solar contract ahead of $1.5bn loan

The wider development is set to generate 5,000MW of power by 2030.

The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 aims to increase the share of clean energy in Dubai’s total power output to 7 per cent by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030, and 75 per cent by 2050.