HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has inaugurated the 200MW second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The project reflects a new era in the excellence and leadership of the UAE, as it increases the share of clean and renewable energy. The inauguration coincided with the International Day of Happiness.

This phase of the solar park is the first and largest solar-energy project in the region, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. It was accomplished through a partnership between DEWA and the consortium led by ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia, the main developer of the project, and TSK from Spain, the main contractor, with an investment of AED 1.2 billion. This phase can generate clean energy for 50,000 residences in Dubai, and will reduce 214,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. This phase installed 2.3 million photovoltaic solar panels over 4.5 square kilometres with 1.5 million Safe Man Hours without Lost Time Injury during project execution. The efforts of Shuaa Energy 1, which was established by DEWA and the consortium led by ACWA Power and TSK, have been vital in completing the work efficiently and professionally.

“The UAE’s strategies and investments are clear evidences that it is today leading international efforts in clean and renewable energy. The second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is a national landmark that will contribute to the happiness of society and generations to come, adds to the blessed progress of the UAE under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The UAE puts sustainability and diversification of energy sources at the forefront of its priorities, based on a forward-looking vision that shapes the future, focuses on the happiness of people, and balances the need for development with the preservation of our environment. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park reflects our commitment to build a better, brighter, and more sustainable future for generations to come. 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 center that will include a photovoltaic solar testing facility, which is set to become one of the largest in the region,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

“Our success in completing this phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which will generate 200 megawatts of clean energy ahead of schedule, is a direct result of the unlimited support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The insightful vision of His Highness is both an inspiration and a guiding beacon in our drive towards excellence and the unprecedented overall progress that we have made to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to generate 7% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is one of the major projects that DEWA implements to achieve this promising strategy. It is the largest single-site solar park in the world, based on the IPP model, with a planned capacity of 1,000 megawatts by 2020 and 5,000 megawatts by 2030, with a total investment of AED50 billion. It will eventually save over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year, supporting Dubai’s objectives to promote sustainable development and a green economy,” added Al Tayer.

“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. DEWA set another world record with the lowest recorded bid being USD 2.99 cents per kW/h for the 800 megawatt third phase of the solar park. This demonstrates the promising future of clean energy,’ said Al Tayer.