HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), visited the construction site of the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The new phase has a planned capacity of 1,800 megawatts (MW) and is being developed under the independent power producer (IPP) model with investments reaching AED 5.5 billion.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is recognized as the world’s largest single-site solar park implemented using the IPP model. It plays a significant role in supporting Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which aim for all of Dubai’s power production to come from clean energy sources by mid-century.
Al Tayer was joined on his tour by Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, along with other senior officials and engineers from DEWA.
During the visit, officials from Shuaa Energy 4 provided an update on progress. “The project is approximately 68.59 % complete with 1000 MW out of the total 1,800MW already operational. Over 2.236 million photovoltaic (PV) solar panels have been installed, with the total number of PV panels set to reach approximately 3.959 million upon the project’s completion next year.”
Currently, the solar park produces 3,860MW of electricity with another 800MW under construction. By 2030, its total capacity is expected to reach 7,260MW—an increase over previous plans—with clean energy projected to supply about one-third of Dubai’s overall energy needs.
The sixth phase incorporates bifacial solar photovoltaic technology with single-axis tracking systems across a site covering twenty square kilometres. Once finished, this phase will provide clean energy for roughly 540,000 residences and cut carbon emissions by around 2.36 million tonnes each year.
