Backed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park (MBR Solar Park), Dubai aims to ensure 100% of its total electricity generation by 2050 as part of its net-zero carbon emissions strategy clean energy. One of the most extensive renewable energy projects adopted by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-point solar park in the world.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, said: “The solar park currently has a capacity of 1,527 MW using photovoltaic solar panels. In addition to the future phase reaching 5,000 MW by 2030, DEWA is implementing more projects, The total capacity is 1,333 MW, using solar photovoltaics and concentrated solar power (CSP). “The clean energy capacity share currently accounts for around 11.4% of Dubai’s energy mix and is expected to reach around 14% by the end of 2022. "

The solar park is planned to have an installed capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030, with an investment of up to US$13.6 billion (AED50 billion). Once completed, the project will reduce carbon emissions by more than 6.5 million tons per year. Al Tayer added that Dubai's regulatory framework enables the private sector to participate in energy production projects in Dubai, encouraging international investors and developers to participate in projects at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

DEWA has implemented the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model on the project and through this model has attracted investment of around US$10.89 billion (AED40 billion) in public-private partnerships. DEWA has also achieved the world's lowest solar price (levelized cost of energy) five times in a row, making Dubai the global benchmark for solar prices.

Five phases of Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park

Phase 1; 13MW The first phase was commissioned on 22 October 2013 and includes approximately 152,000 photovoltaic cells connected to 13 transformers in the inverter building. The output is converted to 33 kilovolts (kV), which can generate nearly 28 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. The first phase could reduce carbon emissions by about 15,000 tons per year. Phase 2; On March 20, 2017, Sheikh Mohammedbin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the solar park's 200 MW PV Phase II project, the largest and first of its kind based on the IPP model in the region. DEWA has partnered with a consortium with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power as the main developer and Spain’s TSK as the main contractor to implement the project, investing AED 1.2 billion. The efforts of Shuaa Energy1, established by DEWA and a consortium led by ACWAPower and TSK, were critical to getting the job done efficiently and professionally, with more than 1.5 million hours worked safely without lost-time injuries. The second phase of the solar park provides clean energy to some 50,000 households in the emirate, reducing carbon emissions by 214,000 tons per year. This phase installed 2.3 million photovoltaic solar panels in an area of 4.5 square kilometers.

Phase 3; In November 2020, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the third phase of the 800 MW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park using photovoltaic solar panels. DEWA, through its subsidiary EDF Énergies Nouvelles, in collaboration with a consortium led by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and EDF Group, implemented the third phase using the IPP model with an investment of AED 3.47 billion. The third phase provides clean energy to more than 240,000 residences in Dubai. The facility is the first in the MENA region to use single-axis solar tracking to increase power generation. It also uses other innovative technologies, including cleaning robots for photovoltaic panels, to increase the efficiency of the factory.

Phase 4; Mohammedbin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park Phase 4 950MW with a total investment of AED 15.78 billion based on the IPP model. It is currently the largest single-station investment project combining CSP and photovoltaic technology in China. It will use 700MW of CSP (600MW from the parabolic basin complex and 100MW from solar towers) and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels. When complete, the project will have the world's largest 15-hour thermal storage capacity, providing energy around the clock. The fourth phase will provide clean energy to about 320,000 households and reduce carbon emissions by 1.6 million tons per year.

Phase 5; In November 2019, DEWA announced a consortium led by ACWA Power and Gulf Investments as the preferred bidder to build and operate Phase 5 of the 900MW solar park using photovoltaic solar panels based on the IPP model. DEWA set a world record at this stage with the lowest bid of 1.6953 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). It uses the latest solar photovoltaic bifacial technology and single-axis tracking to increase energy production. It will provide clean energy to more than 270,000 homes in Dubai and reduce carbon emissions by 1.18 million tons per year.

Innovation and R&D

The solar park has two pioneering projects: an innovation center and a research and development center. The Innovation Hub supports DEWA's efforts to support innovation and creativity in clean and renewable energy, and to raise awareness of sustainability, while strengthening national capacity and improving business competitiveness. The Innovation Center offers visitors a unique experience exploring the latest innovations in clean energy technology. The first floor exhibition area highlights the history of DEWA, key historical inventions and innovations in the power sector, and the latest developments in renewable and sustainable energy.

The area includes more than 30 interactive exhibits designed to educate visitors about renewable energy developments. The site also houses the DEWA Museum, a desalination plant, and a visual space that interprets the properties of light and solar radiation. The center also exhibits key components of photovoltaic solar cells and related technologies, including concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar power towers. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Innovation Centre is located in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. It also showcases DEWA's renewable energy journey, Smart DEWA, the application of solar cells in spacecraft and satellites, and DEWA's development of sustainable buildings. The R&D Center supports DEWA's efforts to anticipate the future and develop aggressive long-term plans to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution by developing disruptive technologies.

The center's research areas include solar energy, smart grid integration, energy efficiency and water. It also focuses on space technology and Fourth Industrial Revolution applications such as 3D printing and additive manufacturing. These are some of the innovative solutions used to produce spare parts for DEWA's power generation, transmission and distribution sectors. The R&D center houses a variety of internal and outdoor laboratories to study the performance and reliability of photovoltaic solar panels. The main in-house laboratories include the Electrical Characterization Laboratory, Mechanical Characterization Laboratory, Material Characterization Laboratory, Solar Simulator Laboratory and Accelerated Aging Laboratory. The outdoor lab includes testing different solar panel technologies and performance, as well as a robotics and drone lab, which helped DEWA earn the Guinness World Records title for the world's first 3D printing lab. Keywords: engineering construction, engineering news

The R&D center is the only one in the UAE focused on renewable energy, smart grid technology and energy efficiency. It has the largest and most comprehensive solar testing and certification facility in the UAE. It conducts the longest continuous test of photovoltaic panels in the desert climate of the UAE.Editor/XingWentao