Dubai Progress Towards Clean Energy

On the occasion of New Year Day, it was revealed that the Dubai is now producing 14% of its power through clean energy.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), announced that the production capacity of clean energy in Dubai has reached 2,027 megawatts (MW) using photovoltaic solar power (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP). This is about 14 per cent of Dubai’s total power production capacity of 14,517 MW.

Al Tayer made this announcement during a visit to Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. It is a project of DEWA and is the largest single-site solar park in the world using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. It will have a production capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030, using PV solar panels and CSP.

Al Tayer inspected progress on the fourth phase of the park and met with the employees of the project who are trained on clean energy. This phase is being implemented by Noor Energy. DEWA owns 51 per cent of the company while ACWA Power holds 25 per cent, and the Silk Road Fund owns 24 per cent.

Al Tayer also inspected the fifth phase of the solar park that is to be commissioned in 2023.  It uses the latest solar photovoltaic bifacial technologies with Single Axis Tracking to increase energy production. It will provide clean energy for more than 270,000 residences in Dubai and reduce 1.18 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The fourth phase of the solar park is the largest single-site solar CSP plant in the world. It will have a capacity of 950 MW and investments amounting to Dh15.78 billion. It combines CSP and solar photovoltaic technologies and is build according to the IPP model. This phase uses three hybrid technologies: 600MW from a parabolic basin complex (three units of 200MW each), 100MW from the world’s tallest solar power tower at 262.44 metres (based on Molten Salt technology), and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels.

On completion, the project will have the largest thermal storage capacity in the world. This will allow the energy availability around the clock. The fourth phase will provide clean energy to about 320,000 residences and will reduce 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Al Tayer said the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 will provide 100 per cent of Dubai’s total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. 

Source :  https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/dubai-now-produces-14-of-power-through-clean-energy-1.92974265