DUBAI, UAE: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has received bids from ACWA Power and Masdar for the 1,800MW 6th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
Masdar has submitted the lowest bid of USD 1.62154 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the project, which will utilize photovoltaic (PV) solar panels under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. The phase is scheduled to become operational in stages, starting in the fourth quarter of 2024.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for DEWA, as the bid represents the lowest price for PV solar power projects based on the IPP model in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The success underscores the commitment of Dubai’s leadership to clean and renewable energy projects, contributing to the global reduction of costs in the sector. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, known as the world’s largest single-site solar park, continues to attract international developers, reaffirming investor confidence in major projects supported by the Government of Dubai.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, highlighted the significance of this achievement in line with Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. He emphasized the importance of reaching an approximate capacity of 42,000MW of clean and renewable energy by 2050 to achieve these goals. Currently, the solar plants at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park have a total production capacity of 2,327MW, with an additional 533MW under construction. Once the 1,800MW 6th phase is completed, the solar park’s production capacity will reach 4,660MW.
Al Tayer reaffirmed DEWA’s commitment to completing the solar park’s phases according to the highest international standards, utilizing the latest solar power technologies to drive the shift towards a green sustainable economy. He highlighted that upon completion, the solar park is expected to reduce over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
DEWA initiated the procurement process for the 6th phase by issuing an Expression of Interest (EOI) in September 2022, followed by the Request for Qualification (RFQ) to interested bidders in November 2022. After a rigorous qualification process, DEWA prequalified seven international bidders, and the Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to them in December 2022.
DEWA is currently evaluating the bids received and aims to select the Preferred Bidder during the third quarter of 2023. The progress of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a testament to Dubai’s commitment to clean energy and its significant contributions to the UAE’s economy and sustainable future.
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