DEWA showcases its projects and initiatives in clean and renewable energy

/ Renewables / Wednesday, 15 January 2020 12:15

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA’s) stand at the exhibition for the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2020 in Abu Dhabi, has attracted a large number of local and international officials and visitors to look at DEWA’s projects and initiatives in clean and renewable energy as well sustainability.

Among the many visitors to the DEWA stand were HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Ólafur Grímsson, former President of Iceland and Chair, Zayed Sustainability Prize Jury; HE Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry; Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Environment and Water Resources in Singapore; Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Hamed, an Emirati business pioneer, and local and international media.

DEWA officials briefed the visitors on the latest developments of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The solar park is the largest single-site solar project in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model with a total planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030 with a total investment of AED 50 billion. Upon its completion, the solar park will cut approximately 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The solar park supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to transform Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy, and provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050.

The 13MW first phase of the solar park uses photovoltaic solar panels and became operational in 2013. The 200MW photovoltaic second phase of the solar park was commissioned in March 2017. DEWA is currently developing the third phase with a capacity of 800MW, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to use an advanced solar tracking system. This will increase generation efficiency by 20-30% when compared to fixed installations. All stages of the third phase will be completed this year. The 950MW fourth phase of the solar park is the largest single-site solar IPP project in the world that combines Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and photovoltaic technologies, with investments totalling AED 15.78 billion. It will use 700MW of CSP; 600MW from a parabolic basin complex and 100MW from a solar tower; and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels. The project will feature the tallest solar tower in the world at 260 metres. It will use 70,000 heliostats, and the largest thermal storage capacity of 15 hours; allowing for energy availability round the clock. The 900MW fifth phase of the solar park uses photovoltaic solar panels, and also uses the IPP model. This phase will become operational in stages starting from Q2 of 2021 onwards. DEWA has achieved a world record by receiving the lowest bid of USD 1.6953 cents per kilowatt hour (kW/h) for this phase.

Visitors reviewed a model for the Green Hydrogen project to produce hydrogen using solar power. DEWA is implementing the project in cooperation with Expo 2020 Dubai and Siemens at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. This pilot project, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, supports DEWA’s research and development of energy storage as well as sustainability, which is one of the key themes of Expo 2020 Dubai. The project shows DEWA’s support for one of the most sustainable World Expos in history as Expo 2020’s Official Sustainable Energy Partner. This pioneering project will contribute to developing a green economy in the UAE and explore the potential for green hydrogen technology. The hydrogen produced at the facility will be stored and deployed for different uses.

Visitors also viewed a model of DEWA’s new headquarters, called Al Shera’a (Arabic for sail), which is being built in Jadaf. It will be the tallest, largest, and smartest government Zero Energy Building in the world. Total energy used in the building during a year will be equal to or less than the energy produced on site during that year. Al Sheraa’s built-up area is over 2 million square feet. The building will have 15 floors, a basement and 4 floors of car parking. The building can house over 5,000 people. Facilities will include a 500-seat auditorium, training halls, an innovation centre, an exhibition hall, a nursery for the children of female employees, and a gym, among others. The building will have over 20,000 square metres of photovoltaic solar panels rated to over 4,000 kilowatts. There will be 1,000 square metres of Building Integrated Photovoltaics. The building will generate over 6,500 megawatt hours (MW/h) a year of renewable energy. The building is intended to use 50% less water than regular buildings. DEWA’s new headquarters will be directly linked to the Jadaf metro station. This will encourage the use of public transport, to reduce traffic and the carbon footprint. It will use the latest technologies including the Internet of Things, Big Data and Open Data, AI, and the latest smart-building management technologies.

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