Dubai has inaugurated the 900-MW 5th phase of its mega solar project Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The new generation capacity will supply clean power to about 270,000 local homes and offset about 1.18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The realisation of the section cost AED 2 billion (USD 544.5m/EUR 498.1m), the government of the emirate said over the weekend.

The solar panels were installed on an area of 10 square km (3.86 square miles).

Utility company Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), which is responsible for the endeavour, is making progress in the implementation of the project which is planned to reach 5 GW of installed capacity by the end of the decade. Earlier in June, DEWA said that it had received 2 bids for the 1.8-GW 6th phase that should go online in stages starting in the final quarter of 2024. The 2 proposals coming from Masdar and ACWA Power will be evaluated and the preferred bidder will be selected in the 3rd quarter of this year.