ACWA Power has just inaugurated the first 300 MW phase of the 900 MW Shuaa Energy 3 PSC power plant, the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park in Dubai.
ACWA Power prepares an additional 300 MW
The inauguration of the project marks another transformational moment in Dubai’s ongoing energy transition and diversification strategies, as well as its development plans.
The 900 MW fifth phase was awarded to a consortium led by ACWA Power at a record tariff of 1.7 cents per kWh last year, and brings the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park’s current generating capacity to 1313 MW.
Once fully operational, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will be the world’s largest solar park based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.
With a planned production capacity of 5,000 MW, it will save over 6.5 million tonnes ofcarbon emissions per year.
Avoid 1.18 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year
Shuaa Energy 3 PSC is expected to power 270,000 residential units and offset carbon emissions amounting to 1.18 million tonnes per year in Dubai.
The project will use the latest bifacial photovoltaic solar panels.
These capture sunlight on both sides of the panel and produce energy with an advanced solar tracking system.
This increases production efficiency by 20%.
The project will feature a state-of-the-art automated solar panel cleaning system.
With 2662 automatic cleaning robots positioned around the plant.
The system guarantees a cleaning factor of 99.3%, further optimizing productivity and operational capacity.
1450 MW under construction soon to be operational
The first 13 MW photovoltaic phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park became operational in 2013.
The second 200 MW photovoltaic phase of the solar park, developed by ACWA Power, was launched in March 2017.
Work on the 950 MW hybrid CSP and PV fourth phase, Noor Energy 1, is underway by a consortium led by ACWA Power.
The fifth phase of the solar park is scheduled to be commissioned in phases later this year, 2021. Shuaa Energy 3 PSC is the special purpose company set up for the project.
It is 60% owned by the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), with the remaining 40% split between ACWA Power and Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC).
