Emirates Water and Electric Company (EWEC), the water and electricity company in the UAE, says that, thanks to the country’s goal of becoming completely energy independent by 2050, clean energy now accounts for more than 60% of the company’s total power generation. This is in line with the UAE’s broader goal of becoming a fully sustainable society.
On December 20, 2017, solar and nuclear energy stations produced a combined 5.5 gigawatts of the total 8.6 gigawatts generated by the utility. This represents a significant milestone in the development of renewable energy sources and underscores the importance of developing innovative technology to ensure the continuation of progress in reducing the UAE’s dependence on fossil fuels.
“The development is a testament to EWEC’s strategic initiatives that prioritize carbon-free technologies in support of the UAE’s sustainable and economic objectives,” said CEO Othman Al Ali. The UAE is prioritising the construction of clean energy plants to reduce emissions and hit its net-zero target by 2050.
The Emirates is constructing the five-gigawatt Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai and the 1.5-gigawatt Al Dhafra station, the world’s largest single-site solar power plant. The solar parks will provide clean, renewable energy to residents and businesses in Dubai and the surrounding area.
In May last year, EWEC invited developers to submit expressions of interest for the development of a new solar photovoltaic plant in the Ajban area of Abu Dhabi. The plant will be the largest of its kind in the UAE and provide energy for the local community and the national grid. It will be similar in size and generation capacity to the one in Al Dhafra, said EWEC. On the other hand, the Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant, one of the world’s largest single-site solar power plants, started commercial operations in 2019; it generates about one gigawatt of electricity.
The UAE plans to invest over $163B in clean and renewable energy sources over the next three decades, which will help the country become more environmentally friendly and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. EWEC forecasts that its solar projects and Barakah nuclear energy plant contributions will reduce carbon emissions by about 20 million tonnes by 2025. This will be a significant reduction from emissions levels in 2020, when emissions were around 40 million tonnes.
The first nuclear plant began commercial operations in April 2021, while the second became operational in March 2022; the third unit was connected to the UAE grid in October 2022, and the fourth is set to become operational in the coming years.
Construction of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA) Hatta pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant is proceeding at a rapid pace, with 58.48% of the project completed. The plant is the first of its kind in the GCC, with investments totalling up to $381.1M. The project is planned for completion by the end of 2024. The power plant will be able to produce up to 250 megawatts of electricity and have a storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours. It is also expected to have a lifespan of 80 years.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), recently inspected the construction site of the Hatta hydroelectric power plant, where he was briefed about the work progress. The visit also included the inspection of the power generators site and the upper dam, where the water intake in the Hatta Dam connected to the power generators has been completed.
The construction of the 72-meter main Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) wall of the upper dam at the Hatta hydroelectric power plant has been completed. Work is also progressing well on the water tunnel, which is 1.2 kilometres long and connects the two dams. The concrete lining of the water tunnel is complete.
The Hatta hydroelectric power plant is a part of DEWA’s efforts to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which aim to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. The project is a part of a larger effort to improve the social, economic, developmental, and environmental conditions in Hatta. It also provides opportunities for citizens in Hatta to find new jobs.
In addition, it is part of the projects and initiatives launched by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) to diversify energy production from renewable and clean sources, including different technologies, such as solar photovoltaic panels, concentrated solar power, and green hydrogen production using renewable energy.
Moreover, the plant will be a massive energy storage facility with an incredibly high turnaround efficiency. The water stored in the upper dam will be converted to kinetic energy during the flow of water through the 1.2km subterranean tunnel, which will then rotate the turbines and generate electrical energy. This energy will be sent to the DEWA grid within 90 seconds in response to demand, which will be a major breakthrough in energy storage, as it will help to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the Middle East.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will generate clean energy and use it to pump water through a tunnel back to the upper dam, which will make the whole project 100% renewable.
Al Tayer visited the fourth phase of the Dubai solar park and was pleased to see that work was progressing well. 417 MW of solar power have been connected to the grid, including 217 MW from photovoltaic panels and 200 MW from CSP using parabolic basins. The fourth phase of the solar park is 92% complete. Al Tayer met with DEWA employees who are trained on clean energy projects and learned more about the fourth phase of the solar park, which is being implemented by Noor Energy. The majority of the company, 51%, is owned by DEWA, with ACWA Power owning 25% and the Silk Road Fund owning 24%.
Al Tayer also visited the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, where DEWA has connected 600 MW to the grid. The fifth phase has a total capacity of 900 MW and investments of AED 2.058B. The 300 MW third project of the fifth phase is 52.9% complete and will be commissioned in 2023. It uses the latest solar photovoltaic bifacial technologies with Single Axis Tracking to increase energy production. It will provide clean energy for more than 270,000 residences in Dubai and reduce 1.18 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Waleed Bin Salman, executive vice president of business development and excellence at DEWA, said that both projects in phase 5 of the Solar Park are on schedule and are near completion. The second project is now 57% complete, and the first project is now 73% complete.
Since its launch, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park has received a lot of interest from global developers, which reflects the confidence of investors in DEWA’s major projects in collaboration with the private sector. Through this model, DEWA has attracted around AED 40B of investments and received the lowest global solar energy prices (levelized costs) five consecutive times, making Dubai a global benchmark for solar energy prices.
The 4th phase of the solar park, with a capacity of 950 MW, is the largest single-site solar CSP plant in the world. This phase uses three hybrid technologies: 600 MW from a parabolic basin complex (three units of 200 MW each), 100 MW from the world’s tallest solar power tower at 262.44 metres (based on Molten Salt technology), and 250 MW from photovoltaic solar panels.
The project is set to have the world’s largest thermal storage capacity, with enough energy to last for up to 15 hours. This will help to ensure energy availability around the clock, and it is anticipated that the fourth phase of the project will provide clean energy for around 320,000 residences. This will reduce 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
