The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has chosen Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) to oversee the construction and management of the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This phase is expected to have a capacity of 1,800 megawatts (MW) and an estimated cost of up to Dh5.51 billion.
DEWA’s sixth phase of the solar park has achieved a significant milestone by achieving the lowest Levelised Cost Of Energy (LCOE) of 1.6215 US cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for any of DEWA’s solar Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects so far. The project received 23 expressions of interest from international applicants interested in its development.
The primary aim of this project is to further Dubai’s transformation into a global hub for clean energy and a green economy. DEWA is committed to achieving the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which seek to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a cornerstone of these strategies. It is already recognized as the largest single-site solar park globally, with plans to achieve a capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030 through the IPP model, with investments amounting to Dh50 billion.
The completion of the sixth phase will contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions. The solar park as a whole is projected to decrease carbon emissions by over 6.5 million tonnes annually. This sixth phase, which employs photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, is set to become operational in stages starting from the fourth quarter of 2024.
The project documents, Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), and financial close agreements will be finalized in due course. Currently, the total solar energy capacity commissioned at the solar park is 2,427 MW. With ongoing projects, including the 1,800 MW sixth phase, Dubai’s clean energy mix is expected to reach 24% of its total installed capacity by 2026, contributing significantly to the region’s sustainable energy goals.
