74% work completed for pumped-storage hydropower project at Hatta

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has finished building 74% of its pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant site in Hatta, Dubai, UAE.

The plant is designed to produce 250 MW of electricity and has a storage capacity of 1,500 MWh. The facility is projected to have a lifespan of 80 years. The project's progress, includes the installation of power generators, ongoing construction of service and operational facilities, and the finalization of the upper dam water intake structure and related bridges. The construction of the main roller compacted concrete (RCC) wall for the 72-m upper dam has been successfully finished, and preparations are underway to commence filling the upper dam by the year's end. Additionally, Al Tayer has reviewed the advancements in the 1.2-km long water tunnel, which is currently being connected to the power generator.

The hydroelectric power plant functions as an energy storage system with an efficiency of 78.9%. It harnesses the potential energy stored in the upper dam's water, which is then converted into kinetic energy as the water flows through the 1.2-km underground tunnel. This kinetic energy powers the turbine, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy that is transmitted to the DEWA grid.

The total investment in this venture amounts to AED 1.421 billion (US$368.8 million). The DEWA pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant is anticipated to commence operations in 2025.