French conglomerate Alstom said on Thursday it has been selected as lead contractor by the consortium picked to build and operate a 1,200 megawatt clean coal power plant in Dubai.

Alstom has been hired by the consortium of Harbin Electricity International and ACWA Power to supply "supercritical technology" for the power facility.

Subject to the financing closure of the project, the plant will start commercial operation by March 2021 with a net output of 1,200MW, representing a 12.5 percent boost of the Dubai current grid capacity.

The plant is the first phase of the $1.8 billion Hassyan clean coal project under planning by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).