HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, broke ground on the 700MW fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR) Solar Park, the biggest Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project in the world.
HH Sheikh Mohammed said that developing the UAEs infrastructure is a top priority for the leadership and vital to raising the countrys global competitiveness. The UAE is developing a new model for sustainability and innovation and is keen to find creative solutions based on international best practices and benchmarks. “We will continue pursuing ambitious investments with an emphasis on projects that have a positive impact on peoples lives. Clean and renewable energy is key to sustainable development and the UAE has set an example for its rapid adoption.”
He further added: “We have developed a sustainable infrastructure that will serve new generations. This infrastructure has been built by young Emiratis who will lead our country through the next phase of growth. We are proud of our nations advancements in clean energy and green economy. The country is reaping the fruits today of the strong planning that we initiated years ago.”
This CSP project, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, will generate 700MW of clean energy at a single site. The project, which features the worlds tallest solar tower measuring 260m and the worlds largest thermal energy storage capacity, will provide clean energy to over 270,000 residences in Dubai, reducing 1.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year. The CSP project will use two technologies for the production of clean energy – the 600MW parabolic basin complex and the 100MW solar tower over a total area of 43sqkm. This project, which features an investment of AED14.2bn, has achieved the worlds lowest Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of USD 7.3 cents per kilowatt hour (kW/h).
Excerpts from the groundbreaking ceremony –
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), said: “I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to HH Sheikh Mohammed for honouring us with his presence on the occasion of this important milestone in our progress towards sustainability. This pioneering Emirati landmark has become a global model based on a vision. It anticipates the future of a nation that sees sustainability as a life-long approach, and a basis for its progress and pioneering achievements for generations to come.
“Todays achievement supports the directives by HH Sheikh Mohammed to expedite the pace of clean and renewable energy projects, in order to secure a happy future and enhance the quality of life for our future generations in an economy that doesnt rely on oil, realising the dream of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, which has already become a reality. This will also achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which His Highness launched, to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean sources by 2050, and the UAE Centennial 2071, to raise the UAEs status as the best country in the world.”
He continued: “The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will provide Expo 2020 Dubai with a dedicated capacity of 464MW of clean energy. This will be the first Expo in the world to be completely powered by clean energy. On this occasion, I would like to thank our partners in the consortium comprising Saudi Arabias ACWA Power and the Silk Road Fund, in collaboration with Chinas Shanghai Electric as the main contractor, for their efforts and contributions in achieving our ambition to harness the sun.”
Mohammad Abu Nayyan, chairman of ACWA Power, said: “At ACWA Power, we are proud of our role in obtaining the lowest price globally for the second phase of the solar park, Shuaa Energy 1 in Dubai. Today we are driving price reduction for Concentrated Solar Power projects globally, achieving more than just one unprecedented world record, by constructing the world’s tallest 260m solar tower and providing the highest storage capacity of 15 hours throughout the day.”
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world, based on the IPP model. It will generate 1,000MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by 2030. The 13MW photovoltaic first phase became operational in 2013. The 200MW photovoltaic second phase of the solar park was launched in March 2017. The 800MW photovoltaic third phase will be operational by 2020, and the first stage of the 700MW CSP fourth phase will be commissioned in Q4 of 2020.