Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) CEO Saeed Al Tayer recently toured the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park’s water desalination plant in Dubai to review its progress in providing high-quality drinking water.
DEWA coordinates research and development in the ongoing desalination plant operation, which utilizes solar energy to extract salt water and produce desalinated potable water. Electricity for the station is derived from a combination of hybrid sources, including photovoltaic cells delivering 100 kW and batteries capable of generating 520 kW hours daily.
The plant is still under construction, with approximately 35 percent of the project finished as of earlier this month and a target date for completion at the end of May. Optimal operating will enable service 24 hours a day; the plant is considered a viable role model for future projects on a larger scale in a movement towards finding alternatives to traditional energy sources.
"The project also supports DEWA and the UAE Water Foundation's (Suqia's) efforts to supply people in poor countries with clean drinking water … and supporting water technology related projects to defeat drought," Al Tayer said.
The desalination plant project conforms to the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, an initiative by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, that will gradually increase the country’s alternative power sources, aiming to raise 7 percent of Dubai's energy from clean energy sources by 2020, 25 percent by 2030 and 75 percent by 2050.
“DEWA gives priority to the environment in all its projects and operations," Al Tayer said. “This supports the Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative and the Dubai Plan 2021 (and) DEWA's vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility.”
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