The UAE’s investments in renewable energy are among the highest in the world, and the country has taken several initiatives in the form of green projects to lean away from fossil fuels and reduce emissions in the energy sector. According to the Statistical Review of World Energy by the UK-based Energy Institute, the UAE is one of the top countries using solar energy in the world. In fact, it is the 6th highest per capita consumer of solar energy globally.
Among the many projects the country has implemented, some key contributions from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) stand out.
DEWA has been implementing projects to increase the share of renewable and clean energy in Dubai’s energy mix, in line with the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, to provide 100 percent of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will have a production capacity of more than 5,000MW by 2030, using photovoltaic solar panels and concentrated solar power (CSP). The current production capacity at the solar park is 2,860MW, and the total capacity under construction is 2033 MW. DEWA aims to have around 27 percent of the generation mix sourced from clean energy sources by 2030.
When completed, the solar park will reduce more than 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The solar park achieved two new records for ‘The Tallest Concentrated Solar Power Tower’ at 263.126 metres and ‘the largest thermal energy storage plant’ at 5,907 megawatt-hours using CSP based on the parabolic basin complex with molten salt technology. The records were achieved in the 950MW 4th phase of the solar park using CSP and photovoltaic solar panel technologies.
Green hydrogen project
DEWA has implemented a green hydrogen project at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The project supports the UAE’s efforts to achieve global competitiveness in the green hydrogen market and contributes to attaining competitive prices in the production of green hydrogen, primarily done by electrolysis of water using renewable energy. Built over an area of 10,000 square meters, the project will accommodate future applications and testing platforms for various uses of hydrogen, including energy production and mobility.
Hydroelectric power plant in Hatta
The hydroelectric power plant DEWA is building in Hatta is the first of its kind in the GCC region. The 250MW station will generate electricity by making use of the water stored in Hatta Dam. It will have a storage capacity of 1,500 MWh and a lifespan of 80 years. The hydroelectric power station will use water in the dam and an upper reservoir built in the mountain. During off-peak hours, advanced turbines will use clean energy to pump water from the dam to the upper reservoir. Turbines operated by the speed of the waterfall from the upper reservoir will be used to generate electricity through a 1.2-kilometre subterranean water canal, with high efficiency in power generation and storage of up to 78.9 percent and with a 90-second response to the demand for electricity.
Water desalination using SWRO technology
DEWA is building a water desalination project in Hassyan using sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) technology. The 180 million imperial gallon per day (MIGD) project is the largest of its kind in the world for water production based on SWRO technology using solar energy. DEWA is building SWRO desalination plants that require less energy than multi-stage flash distillation (MSF) plants, making them a more sustainable choice for water desalination. By 2030, DEWA aims to produce 100 percent of desalinated water using clean energy and waste heat.
EV green charger initiative
In 2014, DEWA launched the green charger Initiative for electric vehicles to create an infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations to enhance green mobility. The initiative played a significant role in expediting the development of electric charging station infrastructure across the emirate, resulting in a network of over 700 charging stations in collaboration with stakeholders. This includes around 400 green charging stations operated by DEWA.
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