DEWA awards Dhs58m deal for hydroelectric power station at Hatta Dam

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has awarded a Dhs58m consultancy contract for the hydroelectric power station at Hatta Dam, it announced on Sunday.

The contract, awarded to France’s EDF, covers design, hydro-geological, geological, environmental, geotechnical, and deep excavation studies, a statement said.

It also includes consultancy on deep-water tunnel designs, the dam and hydroelectric power station, the tender for material supply, supervision of construction work, site installation, on-site testing and commissioning.

The pumped-storage hydroelectric power station, with a total capacity of 250MW, is the first of its kind in the GCC.

With an estimated cost of Dhs1.92bn, the station will generate electricity by using the existing water stored in the Hatta Dam.

The dam can store up to 1,716 million gallons, and an upper reservoir will be built in the mountain to store up to 880 million gallons. The upper reservoir will be 300 metres above the dam level.

During off-peak hours, turbines that use solar energy will pump water from the lower dam to the upper reservoir.

During peak-load hours, when production costs are high, turbines operated by the speed of the water falling from the upper reservoir will be used to generate electricity and connect it to DEWA’s grid, a statement explained.

“The efficiency of power production will reach 90 per cent with a 90-second response to demand for electricity,” it added.

The project is expected to last between 60 to 80 years, according to DEWA.

It is part of the Hatta Comprehensive Development Plan, launched last year by UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The Dhs1.3bn plan aims to turn the mountain city of Hatta into a major tourist destination, with a focus on economy and services, tourism and sport, and education and culture.

Along with the hydroelectric power station, the 10-year plan also includes hundreds of homes for Emiratis, green areas for winter sports, a mountain track circuit, a cultural festival and scholarships for young people.

The plan also aims to generate more than 2,500 jobs.

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