The United Arab Emirates launched its strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Thus, the UAE becomes the first country in the Middle East and North Africa region to launch this strategic initiative.
Dubai also launched the Carbon Neutrality 2050 strategy to provide 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
Reducing carbon emissions
One of the largest renewable and clean energy projects implemented by DEWA to achieve this goal is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest solar energy complex in one location in the world, with a production capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030 with investments of 50 billion dirhams. When completed, the complex will contribute to reducing more than 6.5 million tons of carbon emissions annually.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, confirmed that the regulatory and legislative frameworks in Dubai, which allow the participation of the private sector in energy production projects in the Emirate of Dubai, encouraged global investors and developers to participate in the projects of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Energy Complex, which is implemented by the Authority under the system. The Independent Energy Producer, pointing out that the authority has attracted investments estimated at 40 billion dirhams through this model, which encourages partnership between the public and private sectors, and has achieved world records for the lowest prices for solar energy projects for five consecutive times, as Dubai has become a benchmark for solar energy prices worldwide. .
He added: “We are working at DEWA within the framework of the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote sustainability, innovation and transformation towards a sustainable green economy by increasing the percentage of clean and renewable energy to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Carbon Neutrality Strategy 2050. To provide 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.”
He continued, “The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Energy Complex is the largest solar energy complex in one location in the world, our largest project to achieve this vision, as its production capacity will reach 5,000 megawatts by 2030.”
1527 megawatts
The capacity of solar energy projects that have been operated in the complex is 1,527 megawatts using photovoltaic panels, and the authority has 1,333 megawatts projects under implementation using photovoltaic panels and concentrated solar power, in addition to other future stages to reach 5,000 megawatts by 2030. The production capacity of clean energy has reached To regarding 11.4% of the total energy mix in Dubai and is expected to reach regarding 14% by the end of this year.
On October 22, 2013, the first phase of the complex with a capacity of 13 megawatts was commissioned. The station uses more than 152,000 photovoltaic panels connected to 13 transformers that convert voltage to 33 kilovolts, and produces regarding 28 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, and contributes to reducing more than 15 thousand tons of carbon emissions annually.
On March 20, 2017, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the second phase of the complex with a capacity of 200 megawatts of solar photovoltaic energy, and is the largest and first solar project of its kind in the region according to the independent producer system.
The authority implemented the second phase in cooperation with a consortium led by the Saudi “ACWA Power” company (the main developer) and the Spanish company “TSK” (the main contractor) at a cost of 1.2 billion dirhams. The efforts of Shuaa Energy 1, which was established by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority with the consortium led by ACWA Power and TSK, had an effective role in completing the work with high efficiency and professionalism, as work on the project included more than 1.5 million safe working hours from Without recording any injuries during the implementation process. The second phase of the complex provides clean energy for regarding 50,000 homes in Dubai and contributes to reducing 214,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. This phase included the installation of 2.3 million photovoltaic panels on an area of 4.5 square kilometres.
third level
In November 2020, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the third phase, with a capacity of 800 megawatts, of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has implemented this stage with the technology of photovoltaic solar panels according to the independent product system, in partnership with the alliance led by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company / Masdar / and the “EDF” group through its subsidiary “EDF Energy Novel”, with investments amounting to 3.47 billion dirhams. .
This phase provides clean energy to more than 240,000 residences in Dubai, and is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region that uses a single-axis solar tracking system to increase energy productivity, in addition to other innovative technologies, including cleaning solar panels using robots, which increases the plant’s efficiency.
DEWA is implementing the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Energy Complex with a capacity of 950 megawatts, with investments amounting to 15.78 billion dirhams, according to the independent product system.
This stage is considered the largest investment project in a single site in the world, combining CSP and solar photovoltaic technologies. This phase will use three common technologies: a parabolic trough system with a total capacity of 600 MW / 3 units with a capacity of 200 MW each / the highest solar tower in the world with a height of 262.44 meters with a capacity of 100 MW / using molten salt technology / and photovoltaic solar panels with a capacity of 250 MW. When completed, the fourth phase will be the largest solar energy storage project in the world for a period of 15 hours, allowing the availability of energy 24 hours a day. This phase will provide clean energy to regarding 320,000 homes and will contribute to reducing 1.6 million tons of carbon emissions annually.
In November 2019, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority announced the selection of the consortium led by ACWA Power and the Gulf Investment Corporation as the “best coalition” to implement the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Energy Complex with a capacity of 900 megawatts using photovoltaic solar panels. The authority has achieved a global achievement by obtaining the lowest Global competitive price of 1.6953 US cents per kilowatt-hour for this stage. This stage uses two-sided photovoltaic solar panels that allow the use of reflected sunlight on the front and back sides with a single-axis solar tracking system to increase energy productivity. The fifth stage provides clean energy for more than 270,000 homes in the Emirate of Dubai and reduces regarding 1.18 million tons of carbon emissions annually.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park includes two pilot projects: the Innovation Center and the Research and Development Center. Through the Innovation Center, DEWA aims to support innovation and creativity in the field of clean and renewable energy, raise awareness regarding sustainability, enhance national capabilities and enhance business competitiveness.
The Innovation Center provides visitors with a unique experience to explore the latest innovations in the field of clean energy technologies, starting with the exhibition area on the first floor, which sheds light on the path of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, in addition to the most prominent historical inventions and innovations in the field of electricity and the latest developments in the field of renewable and sustainable energy.
The exhibition area includes more than 30 interactive displays to introduce visitors to the developments of renewable energy, in addition to the Authority’s museum, water desalination plants, a visual area that explains the characteristics of light and solar radiation, and an exhibition of the development of solar energy technologies, the basic components of photovoltaic cells, photovoltaic and concentrated solar energy technologies, the solar tower, and the development of the renewable energy process at DEWA and DEWA. Smart and solar cell applications in spacecraft and satellites, a model showing the mechanism of the electric car and a wind turbine, as well as the development of sustainable buildings in the Authority.
The Research and Development Center supports the Authority’s endeavors to foresee the future and develop long-term proactive plans to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and innovate disruptive technologies. The research and development center’s work areas include “solar energy”, “smart grid integration”, “energy efficiency” and “water”, in addition to space technology and applications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including “3D printing and additive manufacturing” as one of the innovative solutions for the production of spare parts for sectors Production, transmission and distribution in the Authority.
The Research and Development Center includes several internal and external laboratories to study the performance and reliability of solar panels. Among the most prominent in-house laboratories are the Electrical Testing Laboratory, the Mechanical Testing Laboratory, the Materials Testing Laboratory, the Solar Radiation Simulation Laboratory, and the Lifespan Synthetic Accelerator Laboratory.
As for the external laboratories, they include testing various solar panel technologies and verifying their performance, in addition to the laboratory for robots and drones, which contributed to the authority’s entry into the Guinness Book of Records for the first laboratory built with 3D printing technology in the world.
The Authority’s Research and Development Center is the only research center in the UAE related to renewable energy, smart grid technologies and energy efficiency, and includes the largest and most comprehensive facilities in the country to test solar photovoltaic panels and issue conformity certificates. desert climate.
