Dubai Solar Park substation to complete Nov 2017

Al Tayer also inspected progress on the 400/132kV substation at the Solar Park, which will connect the power station of the second phase of the Park with DEWA’s electricity grid, due for completion by November 2017.

Swiss engineering firm ABB is building the 400/132 kV substation and briefed Al Tayer on the project progress, while Energo, the project’s consultant, was also present.

ABB is working with a number of companies on the project, and about 30% of the project’s engineering work has been completed.

Al Tayer expressed his satisfaction with the project’s progress according to schedule.

DEWA operates the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, one of the largest strategic renewable energy projects in the world, based on the independent power producer (IPP) model.

The 13MW first phase became operational on 22 October, 2013.

A consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s ACWA and Spain’s TSK was selected to implement the 200MW second phase of the solar park, which will be operational in 2017.

The 800MW third phase has been announced, and the total capacity of the solar park will reach 3,000MW by 2030.

During his visit, Al Tayer reviewed the work progress on the different projects at the Solar Park, which include an interactive innovation centre, a dedicated R&D centre to test technologies such as photovoltaic, PV, panels and for concentrated solar power (CSP). 

The solar park also includes a water desalination unit that uses reverse osmosis technology to produce 50 cubic metres of drinking water a day.

The desalination plant is powered by a PV array, state agency WAM reported.

“The Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 aims to diversify Dubai’s energy mix by 2030 to be 71% from natural gas, 7% from nuclear power, 7 % from clean coal, and 15% from solar power,” Al Tayer said. 

“The Solar Park is a major step in implementing the energy diversification strategy approved by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, which focuses on producing electricity from solar power as part of Dubai’s energy portfolio,” he added. 

“The price DEWA managed to get for phase two of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park has set a new world standard in photovoltaic power projects based on the IPP model.

“DEWA has succeeded in obtaining the lowest price globally at 5.62cents per kWh, because of the confidence in DEWA and Dubai, and the legislation that protects the rights of all parties,” Al Tayer added.