Dubai, UAE – In a significant stride towards achieving its renewable energy goals, Dubai inaugurated the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, solidifying its position as the world’s largest single-site solar park. With an impressive planned capacity of 5GW by 2030, the solar park is a testament to Dubai’s commitment to clean energy, despite launching during the challenging Covid-19 pandemic.
Completed ahead of schedule, the fifth phase of the solar park boasts a capacity of 900MW, providing clean energy to approximately 270,000 homes in the emirate. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, presided over the inauguration, emphasizing Dubai’s unwavering dedication to becoming one of the most sustainable cities globally.
The completion of the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park takes us another major step closer to realizing our vision for an economy fully powered by clean energy.Dubai is resolute in its commitment to becoming one of the most sustainable cities in the world, with diverse initiatives.
Sheikh Mohammed
This latest phase of the solar park coincides with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability and aligns with the country’s target of generating 25% of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2050. Notably, the UAE is set to host the Cop28 climate change summit in November, further demonstrating its commitment to combating climate change.
The fifth phase, a collaboration between Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and a consortium led by Acwa Power and Gulf Investment Corporation, signifies the growing role of renewable energy in Dubai’s energy mix. With a total capacity of 2,427MW from photovoltaic solar panels and concentrated solar power, the solar park has significantly contributed to DEWA’s goal of increasing clean energy’s share in Dubai’s energy mix, which currently stands at about 16.3% of total installed capacity.
One of the noteworthy aspects of the fifth phase is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into an advanced robotic cleaning system for the operation and maintenance of photovoltaic panels. Spanning an area of approximately 10 square kilometers, the fifth phase marks a milestone in the region for utilizing AI in solar park management.
Looking ahead, DEWA has already received bids for the sixth phase of the solar park, demonstrating continued investor interest in Dubai’s renewable energy projects. Bids from Acwa Power and Masdar have been received, with Masdar submitting the lowest bid of 1.62154 cents per kilowatt-hour. The evaluation process is currently underway, and DEWA aims to select the preferred bidder during the third quarter of this year. The sixth phase, with a production capacity of 1,800MW, is expected to commence operation in stages, starting from the fourth quarter of 2024.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park stands as a shining example of Dubai’s commitment to a sustainable future and the transition to clean energy. With each phase, the solar park brings the emirate closer to achieving its renewable energy targets and establishing itself as a global leader in the clean energy revolution.