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The technologies fueling this expansion are photovoltaic solar panels and concentrated solar power or CSP
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The move will increase DEWA’s total power capacity from clean energy to 1,613 MW
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is on its way to add 600 megawatts of clean-energy capacity through the solar route in 2021, local reports on Sunday, June 13, quoted DEWA Managing Director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer as saying.
The technologies fueling this expansion are photovoltaic solar panels and concentrated solar power or CSP, the reports added.
The move will increase DEWA’s total power capacity from clean energy to 1,613 MW.
Al Tayer said DEWA will in July commission the 300MW first stage of the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
DEWA will also commission the world’s tallest CSP tower at 262.44 meters with a capacity of 100MW in September and 200MW from the parabolic trough as part of the 4th phase of the solar park by the end of 2021.
Therefore, DEWA will add 300MW from solar photovoltaic panels and 300MW from CSP. Clean capacity in Dubai’s energy mix will reach around 10 percent in July and 12 percent by the end of the year.
Al Tayer emphasized that DEWA’s major projects in cooperation with the private sector, based on the Independent Power Producer model, contribute to the economic growth of the Emirate. Through this model, DEWA received the lowest solar energy prices (Levelized Cost of Energy) globally five consecutive times, making Dubai a global benchmark for solar power prices. DEWA has attracted investments of around AED40 billion ($10.89 billion) from the IPP model.
Waleed Salman, executive vice-president of business development and excellence at DEWA, explained that the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site investment project that combines CSP and photovoltaic technology using the IPP model. It is rated for 950MW with investments up to AED16 billion ($4.36 billion). This phase is characterized by the largest thermal energy storage capacity in the world of 15 hours, which allows for energy production round the clock.
DEWA received the lowest global bid of US$1.6953 cents per kilowatt hour for the 900MW fifth phase using the latest solar photovoltaic bifacial technologies, with Single Axis Tracking to increase energy production.