According to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Engineering studies for the hydroelectric power station that will make use of the water stored in the Hatta Dam are making progress.

The engineering studies are part of a consultancy contract, which covers numerous regionsof the project.

France’s EDF were awarded by DEWA the consultancy contract for the pumped-storage hydroelectric power station, worth approximately $16 million. The project is the first of its kind in the Arabian Gulf, with a total capacity of 250MW, and a lifespan of 60 to 80 years.

“The water in the Hatta Dam will be used by the hydroelectric power station to generate electricity, which can store up to 1,716 million gallons, and an upper reservoir that will be built on the mountain that can store up to 880 million gallons.

The upper reservoir will be 300 metres above the dam level. During off-peak hours, turbines that use cheap and clean 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 waterfall from the upper reservoir will be used to generate electricity and connect it to DEWA’s grid. The efficiency of power production will reach 90% with a 90-second response to demand for electricity,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“Our dependence on hydropower is part of our drive to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and to transform the Emirate into a global hub for clean energy and green economy and also to increase the share of clean energy mix in Dubai to 75% by 2050,” he added.

Al Tayer pointed out hydropower is one of the main sources of renewable and clean energy in the world.