The Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in the UAE is completing the sixth phase of this project, which is the largest single-site solar project in the world, hosted by Dubai.
Three UAE entities have signed an agreement to construct and operate the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, with a capacity of 1,800 megawatts and a cost of AED 5.51 billion ($1.4 billion), which is expected to provide power to more than half a million homes.
The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed between Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar).
The Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park currently has a capacity of 2,427 MW, and other projects with a capacity of 433 MW are also being implemented. With the entry into force of the sixth phase of the 1,800 MW complex, the total capacity of the phases of the park will reach 4,660 MW.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, witnessed the signing ceremony of the agreement and said that this agreement will provide energy to more than half a million homes and reduce emissions of 2.36 million tons of carbon annually. Work will be completed on all phases of this mega project in 2030 with a total investment of 50 billion dirhams ($13 billion), and the goal is 100 percent clean energy for Dubai by 2050.
Read: UAE to soon operate one of the world’s largest solar plants
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, the President-designate of COP28, the Chairman of Masdar, Sultan Al Jaber, and Saeed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
Masdar was selected from among 23 high-profile international companies that participated in the project’s tender, offering a cost price of 1.6215 cents per kilowatt hour.
Al Jaber said: “Masdar continues to focus on deploying clean energy solutions, reducing emissions and advancing climate action. Masdar’s winning the development of this project in the world’s largest single-site solar park adds to its track record of delivering pioneering clean energy projects and reinforces its active contribution to the strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.”
“Dubai is at the forefront of launching programs, projects and initiatives, most notably the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, to promote sustainability, green economy and preserving natural resources for future generations. ADFEC has been selected to implement the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park with a capacity of 1,800 MW using solar photovoltaic panels under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) system, and DEWA has managed to obtain the lowest globally competitive price of 1.6215 US cents per kilowatt hour for this phase.”
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: “We are moving forward with our goals of increasing the production capacity of our projects from the current 20 GW to 100 GW by 2030, and actively contributing to reducing carbon emissions in the UAE and globally.”
When completed, the complex will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 6.5 million tons per annum. The sixth phase of the project with a capacity of 1,800 MW is planned to be operational from the last quarter of 2024.
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