Fourth phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park likely to complete in Q1 2024
The fourth phase will provide clean energy for around 320,000 residences and reduce 1.6m tonnes of carbon emissions every year
Construction of the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park (MBR Solar Park) is said to be moving at a steady pace. According to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), work on this phase is likely to be complete in Q1 next year. Once complete, the fourth phase of the project, which has a capacity of 950MW, will provide clean energy to over 320,000 homes, DEWA said.
Sharing an update on the MBR Solar Park, DEWA said the first phase has been fully completed, covering 100% of the 100MW from the solar tower, 200MW from the parabolic basin complex, and 217MW from photovoltaic solar panels. The second phase, with 200MW from the parabolic basin complex, is 98.5% complete, while the third phase comprising 200MW from the parabolic basin complex and 33MW from photovoltaic solar panels, is 87.1% ready.
The project is being implemented by Noor Energy 1, a consortium comprising DEWA and Saudi utility developer Acwa Power along with the Chinese Silk Road Fund.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, inspected the work progress on the fourth phase of the MBR Solar Park. “The commissioned solar energy projects within the park currently total 2,427MW, contributing to approximately 16.3% of Dubai’s energy mix. This percentage will increase to 24% by 2026 upon the completion of the sixth phase and the ongoing construction of subsequent phases,” stated Al Tayer.
According to Al Tayer, the fourth phase of the solar park uses three hybrid technologies to produce clean energy: 600MW from a parabolic basin complex (three units of 200MW each), 100MW from the world’s tallest solar power tower at 262.44m (based on Molten Salt technology), and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels.
During his visit, Al Tayer was also briefed by Noor Energy 1 officials on the work progress in the fourth phase, which is the largest single-site project that combines Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and photovoltaic technology. Al Tayer was accompanied by Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation; Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power; Yousef Jebril, Executive Vice President of Power, Water & Planning; Mohammad Jame, Acting Vice President of Clean Energy and Diversification, as well as other DEWA officials.
DEWA and the Acwa Power-led consortium, established Noor Energy 1 as a project company to design, build, and operate the fourth phase of the MBR Solar Park. DEWA holds a 51% stake in the company, while Acwa Power holds 25%, and the Chinese Silk Road Fund owns 24%.
Al Tayer explained, “So far, 717MW have been commissioned from this phase, which will have the largest thermal storage capacity in the world of 15 hours, allowing for energy availability round the clock. The fourth phase will provide clean energy for around 320,000 residences and reduce 1.6m tonnes of carbon emissions every year.”
The fourth phase included the installation of more than 790,000 photovoltaic solar panels and more than 63,600 parabolic trough collectors (PT). The project integrates 70,000 mirrors (heliostats) that track the sun’s movement, he concluded.
