The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has completed engineering studies for a hydroelectric power station in Hatta. The 250MW plant will use water stored in the Hatta Dam and is said to be the first of its kind in the Arabian Gulf.
The study was part of a $15.8m consultancy contract that was awarded to EDF Group in June 2017, which included all of thedesign, hydro-geological, geological, environmental, geotechnical, and deep excavation studies.
“As part of the “Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050”, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we have launched several projects, including the hydroelectric power station, at a cost of $523m. In addition to being a low-cost reliable and efficient source of clean energy, hydropower is the most important source for energy storage. It is estimated that storage hydropower represents 99% of the world’s operational electricity storage. Other benefits include water security, flood control, drought management, irrigation, and recreation,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dewa.
The contract with EDF also included consultancy on deep-water tunnel designs, the upper reservoir and hydroelectric power station, the tender for material supply, supervision of construction work, site installation, on-site testing and commissioning.
According to a statement from DEWA, the hydroelectric power station will rely on water in the Hatta Dam to generate electricity. The dam is said to be able to store up to 1,716m gallons, while an upper reservoir that will be built in the mountain will be able to store 880m gallons.
“Hydropower is one of the most flexible and sustainable renewable energy sources. It can be operated to provide base-load power, as well as peak-load supply through pumped-storage. However, estimates indicate the availability of approximately 10,000TWh/year of unutilised hydropower potential worldwide,” Al Tayercommented.
The planned upper reservoir will be located 300m above the dam level and during off-peak hours, turbines driven by 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 for DEWA’s grid. The efficiency of power production is expected to be 90% with a 90-second response to demand for electricity.
DEWA notes that the plant is expected to have a lifespan of up to 80-years.