Dubai to build GCC’s biggest hydroelectric power station
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority project will be built near Al Hattawi Dam as part of Vision 2021
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced plans to build the GCC’s biggest hydroelectric power station near the Al Hattawi Dam as part of the plan to achieve the UAE Vision 2021.
The project will be the first of its kind in the Gulf, and it will make use of water stored in the mountains next to the dam to produce 250MW of power, with a lifespan of 60-80 years, DEWA said in a statement.
It added that the project was launched in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Besides the hydroelectric power station in the mountains next to the Al Hattawi Dam, the project will also involve the development of other infrastructure projects in the region, DEWA said.
The power station itself will work through two reservoirs. The lower one is situated in the dam, at 400m above sea-level, and has a capacity of 1,716 million gallons; the upper reservoir, which will be built in the shape of a lake, will be 700m above sea-level.
The horizontal distance between the two reservoirs will be three or four kilometres, with a 300m difference in height.
“We are pleased to play a role in the development of Hatta. We are inspired by the vision of Sheikh Mohammed, which outlines the roadmap that guides our work, initiatives, and developmental projects to achieve the UAE Vision 2021,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and chief executive of DEWA.
He added that sustainable development while preserving the environment was a key focus for the UAE government, as it looked to achieve a balance between economic and social development.
“This adheres to the directives of our wise leadership, to transform the UAE into one of the best countries in the world by 2021, when we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Union,” he added.
Al Tayer added that solar energy would be used to power the water turbines to pump water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir.
“The speed of waterfall from the upper reservoir will be used to generate electricity and connect it to Dewa’s grid. The efficiency of the power station will reach 90 per cent with response to demand for energy within 90 seconds,” he explained.
“The project will create jobs, contribute to human and economic development, and enhance tourism through world-class tourist facilities in Hatta that we will develop in cooperation with one of the developers.”
In addition to energy and irrigation, the project will also provide other services, such as flood control and the storing of fresh drinking water.
Al Tayer also said that DEWA would be implementing other projects in the Hatta area, including the installation of photovoltaic panels on rooftops of buildings for Emiratis in the region. It would also set up smart metres in the buildings and houses, while also establishing the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations, through the Green Charger initiative.
“Currently, there is a 132 kV substation, and a 900 mm main water pipe in the region that meets the existing and future needs of the people in Hatta,” he said.
