Dubai opens world’s largest solar-powered data centre

Dubai is now hosting the world’s largest solar-powered data centre, located at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world.

The data centre was constructed by Data Hub Integrated Solutions (Moro Hub), a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

It was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, on Thursday, February 16.

Today, we inaugurated the world’s largest solar-powered data centre built by DEWA Digital’s Moro Hub. Inspired by @HHShkMohd’s vision for sustainable growth, the new facility in Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Al Maktoum Park provides a global model for sustainability and green economy pic.twitter.com/52tCUI0fhO

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) February 16, 2023

Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on the facility’s integrated solutions designed to provide next-gen services in the areas of digital transformation, cloud and hosting services, cybersecurity, smart cities, IoT services and professional and managed services, as well as Moro services supported by ChatGPT technology.

“The centre provides an exceptional model for combining digital technologies with energy technologies. With a world-class low-carbon information technology infrastructure powered by solar energy, the data centre supports the goal of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to generate 100 per cent of its energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050,” said Saeed Mohammed Al T ayer, managing director and CEO of DEWA.

Also read: Dubai to reduce almost a third of its carbon emissions by 2030

“Moro Hub’s solar-powered data centre also supports our efforts to achieve the targets of the Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. This initiative is particularly significant since it comes in a year in which the UAE is hosting the largest international climate conference, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28).”

Read: UAE reveals Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative

The opening event featured the signing of agreements between Moro Hub and its technology partners and customers, including Dell Technologies, Microsoft, Huawei, VMWare, Emirates NBD, Digital Dubai Authority, and Dubai Islamic Bank.

The Uptime TIER III-Certified data centre, which features solutions from Dell Technologies, Microsoft and Huawei, has a capacity exceeding 100 megawatts (MW), and is spread across more than 16,000 square metres.

“The project is a bright sign in Dubai’s journey towards a sustainable future that takes into account environmental needs. We at Digital Dubai support this approach as part of our leadership of the digital transformation process in the emirate,” added Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, director-general of Digital Dubai.

The new solar-powered data centre will help local organisations accelerate progress and create innovative work environments, while ensuring high productivity.