Dubai is accepting proposals for CSP plant of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to all qualified bidders for a 200 MW Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Power Plant, the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, and is accepting submissions by May.

This supports the wise vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai a global centre of clean energy and green economy.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site strategic solar energy project of its kind in the world, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. The 13 MW first phase became operational in 2013. The 200 MW second phase of the Solar Park will be operational by 2017. In June 2016, DEWA announced that the Masdar-led consortium was the selected bidder for the 800MW third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, to be completed by 2020, based on the IPP model, after getting a Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of US$2.99 cents per kilowatt hour (kW/h).

The total capacity of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will reach 1 GW by 2020, and 5 GW by 2030, with total investments of AED50 billion (US$13.61 billion).

The project is part of DEWA’s efforts to support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to increase the share of clean energy in Dubai total energy output to be 7% by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said:

“This 200 MW CSP Plant will be operational by April 2021, since we intend to continue generating 1 GW from CSP by 2030. Undoubtedly, this project is another milestone achievement that will put Dubai and the UAE at the forefront in the region in producing renewable and clean energy, and supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

We are determined to continue building and developing a greener economy, to achieve the UAE Vision 2021 of a sustainable environment in terms of air quality, conserving water resources, more reliance on clean energy, and implementing green development in Dubai, as well as Dubai Plan 2021 to establish Dubai as a smart and sustainable city, whose environmental elements are clean, healthy and sustainable.

We also support the long-term Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative to build a green economy in the UAE. We are inspired to achieve these ambitious goals of our wise leadership who support the plan to diversify our energy mix to ensure energy security, and build a sustainable future, for generations to come."

Al Tayer concluded:

“To achieve our vision to become a sustainable innovative world class utility, we are working to establish sustainability as the roadmap that secures a brighter and happier future for Dubai, by launching distinguished world-class initiatives and projects in green development.”