World’s tallest CSP tower to be commissioned by DEWA in September
The total production capacity of the solar park’s operational phases is currently 1,013MW
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) says it will commission the world’s tallest concentrated solar power (CSP) tower in September of this year. Standing at 262.44m, the tower has a capacity of 100MW, in addition to 200MW from parabolic trough. The tower is located within the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
According to a statement from DEWA, the solar park is the largest single-site solar investment project of its kind in the world. It combines CSP and photovoltaic solar panels with a capacity of 950MW, with investments totaling $4.36bn.
This phase is characterised by the largest storage capacity in the world for 15 hours, which allows for around-the-clock energy production, the utility firm said. In July, DEWA will commission the 300MW first stage of Solar Park Phase Five, which will have a capacity of 900MW using photovoltaic solar panels.
The statement also pointed out that DEWA is set to launch its Green Hydrogen project, which is billed as a first-of-its-kind facility in the Middle East and North Africa. The project will produce green hydrogen using solar energy.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA noted that the firm’s approach is based on scientific foundations, and pilot projects will build national capabilities and competencies, and will promote the development of green hydrogen projects in the UAE. This will be in line with the model DEWA adopted in the projects of the Maktoum Solar Park, in which its first phase began with a pilot project with a capacity of 13MW, the statement noted.
“We have a clear approach for the energy sector in line with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. We are using the latest Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Blockchain to enhance energy efficiency and increase the happiness of all stakeholders including customers. The share of clean energy capacity in Dubai’s energy mix has increased to around 9%. This exceeds the percentage set in the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy to provide 7% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2020,” Al Tayer explained.
The projects that are currently under construction have a total capacity of 1,850MW, with future phases to reach 5,000MW by 2030, the statement explained. On the utility firm’s other key projects, Al Tayer said that tunneling operations have already begun on the 250MW hydroelectric power station in Hatta with the over 20% project work completed.
