Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), inspected the work progress at the 950 MW 4th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The 4th phase uses the Independent Power Producer model with investments up to AED 15.78 billion.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer also reviewed the work progress at the Visitors’ Centre of the 4th phase of the solar park. This is the largest Concentrated Solar Power project globally and features the world’s tallest solar power tower at 262.44 metres.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer was accompanied by a number of Executive Vice Presidents and officials at DEWA.

Abdul Hamid Al Muhaidib, Executive Managing Director of Noor Energy 1, briefed Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer on the work progress in the project. Noor Energy 1 is owned by DEWA, ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia, and the Silk Road Fund, which is owned by the Chinese Government.

The visit discussed the construction workflow and continuity for this strategic project. Progress in the solar tower is around 87 per cent, completing 10mn safe working hours without injuries.

The concrete part of the solar power tower is now completed at a height of 222 metres. The Molten Salt Receiver was built and assembled on top of the world’s highest solar tower in a phenomenal construction process in June 2020.

The pallets and tubes that transfer the molten salt inside the solar tower have also been completed.

The Molten Salt Receiver is the centre and the most important part of the Concentrated Solar Power plant. It receives solar radiation and turns it into thermal energy. Up to 82.7% of the overall project’s 1st phase has been completed. This includes the solar power tower, the parabolic basin complex, and the PV solar panels.

The 4th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single site investment project that combines Concentrated Solar Power and PV technology using the Independent Power Producer model, and is rated for 950 MW.

It will use 700 MW of Concentrated Solar Power (600 MW from a parabolic basin complex, 100 MW from the solar power tower) and 250 MW from PV solar panels.

On completion of the project, it will have the largest thermal storage capacity in the world of 15 hours, allowing for energy availability round the clock. The 4th phase will provide clean energy for about 320,000 residences and reduce 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.

This project covers 44 square km and has broken many world records, including the lowest Levelised Cost of Electricity of US$ 7.3 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the 700 MW Concentrated Solar Power and US$ 2.4 cents per kWh for the 250 MW PV solar panels.