Construction of the 250MW pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta is nearly 30% complete, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced. Once complete, the plant will feature a storage capacity of 1,500MW-hours and a life span of up to 80 years.
According to a statement from DEWA, the hydroelectric power plant is an energy storage system with a turnaround efficiency of 78.9%. It utilises the potential energy of the water stored in the upper dam which is converted to kinetic energy during the flow of water through the 1.2km subterranean tunnel. This kinetic energy rotates the turbines and converts mechanical energy to electrical energy, which is sent to DEWA grid within 90 seconds in response to demand, the utility company noted.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) said that this is the first station of its kind in the GCC with investments of up to $386m. He made the remarks after an inspection visit to the power station accompanied by Nasser Lootah, EVP of Generation at DEWA, Khalifa Albedwawi, the project manager, and the project team.
He noted, “The first 37m-high Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) wall is now complete at the project’s upper dam. The station will use water in the Hatta Dam and an upper dam that is being built in the mountain.”
He explained that the power plant will supports DEWA’s efforts to diversify its energy mix including photovoltaic solar panels, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), green hydrogen production using renewable energy, while studies on wind power generation in Hatta are underway.
The hydroelectric power plant is one of DEWA’s projects to provide innovative job opportunities for the people of Hatta, and the area’s development to meet its social, economic, and environmental needs. Al Tayer continued, “The service tunnelling operations are complete. Each tunnel is 500m long. More than 95% of the excavation operations of the 1.2km subterranean water canal has been completed.”
He also said the 60m-deep excavation for the area where the generators will be installed is now complete and noted that the project has completed 4.6m safe working hours without any injuries.
DEWA is also implementing two other pioneering projects in Hatta; namely, Dubai Mountain Peak and Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls, he concluded.