DEWA receives 95 Expressions of Interest (EOI) for 800MW third Phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

Wednesday 21 October 2015

Dubai - MENA Herald: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has received 95 Expressions of Interest from international energy companies in response to its tender request on 8-29 September 2015. The project, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, is another landmark project that will make Dubai and the UAE a regional leader in producing renewable and clean energy.

DEWA is in the process of preparing the Request for Qualification (RFQ) documents. The RFQ is expected to be released to bidders who have submitted their EOIs by November this year. The project's tender is expected to be released before the end of the year.

“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the plans for the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park in January 2012. It is currently being built in the Seih Al Dahal area. This park supports the vision of His highness to build a sustainable green economy based on the conservation of natural resources and the preservation of the environment. Its capacity will eventually reach 3,000MW by 2030,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“To achieve our vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility, we are working to enhance sustainability and put forward a roadmap that will ensure a happier brighter future for Dubai. This will result from our launching a range of internationally-acclaimed projects and initiatives in Green Development,” added Al Tayer.

“DEWA has proved its flexibility to meet updates in the energy sector based on its success in getting the cheapest international price for solar power, at US$ 5.4 cents per kilowatt hour. We increased the targeted energy mix for renewable energy target in the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 from 1% to 7% by 2020 and from 5% to 15% by 2030. Also, we succeeded in increasing the generation capacity of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park, which will become the largest singles-site renewable energy project in the world, to 3,000MW by 2030. We also increased the capacity of the second project to 200MW, which will be ready by April 2017. We also increased the capacity of third phase of the project to 800MW. This is another achievement that will put the UAE at the forefront of renewable energy generation,” added Al Tayer.

“The solar park is based on innovation and includes a centre for innovation, equipped with the latest renewable clean energy technologies, which will also be a museum for solar and renewable technologies. It will also include an R&D centre that includes two centres for solar testing. The first is dedicated to photovoltaic technologies and the second is for concentrated solar power technologies. We are currently testing in the first centre 25 photovoltaic modules offered by international companies that specialise in such arrays, and we are doing all the required testing, measuring and analysis to develop the best technologies for the Arabian Gulf’s climate. The park also has a training centre and a special conference centre to act as a platform for the exchange of expertise, information and innovation, and will use the best advances in R&D to achieve green sustainable development,” said Al Tayer.

Related News