Sheikh Mohammed during the opening of the Solar Park in Seih Al Dahl on Sunday. WAM

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has inaugurated the 900 megawatt (MW) fifth phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR) Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world with a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030.

The fifth phase of the project will provide clean energy to around 270,000 residences in Dubai, reducing 1.18 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Featuring a total investment of Dhs50 billion, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, the Solar Park is expected to reduce 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually when fully completed.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council; Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE); and Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, attended the inauguration.

Sheikh Mohammed was welcomed at the Solar Park in Seih Al Dahl, by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa). Sheikh Mohammed said: “The UAE is at the forefront of global efforts to create a more sustainable future for all of humanity by taking concrete action to transition to renewable energies and combat climate change.

Sheikh Mohammed during the opening of the MBR Solar Park in Dubai. WAM

In 2023, the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, and the year in which we are hosting COP28, we continue to place sustainability at the heart of our development plans and make new strides in shaping a truly environmentally friendly economy.

The completion of the fifth phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park takes us another major step closer to realising our vision for an economy fully powered by clean energy.

“Aligned with the UAE’s vision, Dubai has developed a clear strategy and pathway to achieve its targets of generating 25 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050. Dubai is resolute in its commitment to becoming one of the most sustainable cities in the world, with diverse initiatives.

Sheikh Mohammed along with other dignitaries during the inauguration of the Solar Park in Seih Al Dahl on Sunday.

The rapid progress of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park project is yet another example of our strong ethos of public-private partnerships. Such partnerships play a key role in driving sustainable economic development, building a world-class renewable energy infrastructure and creating a diverse environment-friendly energy mix in the emirate. Apart from benefiting the environment, our sustainability initiatives also contribute to our plans to consolidate Dubai’s status as one of the world’s top urban economies and enhance the wellbeing and quality of life of our citizens and residents.”

The inauguration was attended by Dawood Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality; Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary-General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy; Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC); Abdulla Bin Kalban, Managing Director of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA); Hussain Al Banna, CEO of Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA); Juan-Pablo Freile, General Manager of Dubai Petroleum; Hussain Al Banna, Acting CEO of the Strategy & Corporate Governance Sector at the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA); Mohammad Abdullah Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power; and Ibrahim AlQadhi, CEO of Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC). His Highness was briefed by Al Tayer about the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. Dewa has implemented this phase using the latest solar photovoltaic bifacial technologies with Single Axis Tracking to increase energy production and the plant’s efficiency.

The Dhs2 billion project, implemented based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, features a partnership between Dewa (60%) and a consortium led by ACWA Power and Gulf Investment Corporation (40%) through Shuaa Energy 3. Dewa achieved a world record by receiving the lowest bid of $1.6953 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the fifth phase.

Sheikh Mohammed was also briefed by Al Tayer about the phases of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and the technologies used in the project. The total capacity of the solar energy projects commissioned at the solar park has reached 2,427MW from photovoltaic solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).

WAM