Sheikh Mohammed opens world’s largest concentrated solar farm

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has inaugurated the 950-megawatt (MW) Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project, the biggest in the world, as part of the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

With an estimated cost of up to Dhs15.8bn, the solar park uses three hybrid technologies: 600MW from a parabolic basin complex, 100MW from the CSP tower, and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels.

The project features the tallest solar tower in the world, at 263.126 metres, and the largest thermal energy storage capacity with a capacity of 5,907 megawatt hours (MWh), according to the Guinness World Records.

“Our journey towards sustainability is comprehensive, encompassing advanced clean energy projects across diverse renewable sources, and innovative solutions integrated into various spheres of the economy and society,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said.

“Driven by the objectives of the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategy, we continue to expand our sustainable energy mix and embrace renewable and alternative energies, shaping not only our nation’s future but also contributing significantly to the global effort to combat climate change.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was briefed about the project by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) managing director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.

The fourth phase of the solar park features 70,000 heliostats that track the sun’s movement while the Molten Salt Receiver (MSR) on top of the solar power tower receives solar radiation and turns it into thermal energy.

The MSR contains over 1,000 thin tubes that enable the absorption of sun rays and their transfer to the molten salt within these tubes.

The fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is expected to power 320,000 homes and offset 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

DEWA’s Al Tayer said the project features the tallest CSP tower and the largest single-site thermal energy storage in the world, as well as the lowest cost to produce renewable energy round the clock.

Sheikh Mohammed champions energy transition

Meanwhile, DEWA commissioned the 200MW second unit of the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park earlier in October. The Dubai utility firm holds a 51 per cent stake in the company, ACWA Power holds 25 per cent, and the Chinese Silk Road Fund owns 24 per cent.

DEWA has increased the share of clean energy in Dubai’s energy mix to about 16.3 per cent of the company’s total installed capacity, which has reached 14,92MW.

Under the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy, the city seeks to obtain 100 per cent of its power from clean energy sources.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also inaugurated the 900MW phase 5 of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in June. The fifth phase of the solar park is expected to power 270,000 homes and offset 1.18 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

With a total investment of Dhs50bn based on the independent power producer model, the solar park will cut carbon emissions by 6.5 million tonnes annually upon completion.

Read: DEWA selects Masdar to build phase 6 of Dubai solar park