Dewa invites global developers for MBR Solar Park’s 7th phase

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has invited international developers to submit expressions of interest for a tender to develop the 1,600-megawatt (MW) seventh phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park (MBR Solar Park).

This phase, which is expandable to 2,000MW, will use photovoltaic solar panels and a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 1,000MW for six hours, providing a total storage capacity of 6,000 megawatt-hours (MWh).

This will make it one of the world’s largest solar-plus-storage projects.

The phase will be implemented under the independent power producer (IPP) model. Dewa has invited international developers or consortia to submit their expressions of interest by March 21st, 2025.

The 7th phase is expected to produce 4.5 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, avoiding the burning of more than 36 billion cubic feet of natural gas. It will increase the solar park’s planned production capacity from 5,000MW to 7,260MW, raising the share of clean energy in Dubai’s energy mix from 27 per cent to 34 per cent by 2030.

As a result, the total reduction in carbon dioxide emissions will rise from 6.5 million tonnes to approximately 8 million tonnes annually, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for sustainability and innovation in renewable energy. The 7th phase is scheduled to become operational in stages between 2027 and 2029.

The solar park’s current production capacity stands at 3,460MW, with an additional 1,200MW under construction.

Meanwhile Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), announced that Dubai’s energy demand increased by 5.4 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023.

Al Tayer said that energy demand in 2024 was 59,594 gigawatt hours (GWh), compared to 56,516 GWh in 2023.

He further noted that Dewa continues to increase the capacity of transmission and distribution networks as it develops world-class electricity and water infrastructure to keep pace with Dubai’s population growth and the steady expansion of the Emirate’s economic activities.

“Thanks to the wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai has become a global city and a preferred destination to live and work in, as well as a hub for business and tourism. Dubai’s urban, economic and demographic prosperity promotes Dewa’s sustainable growth, driven by growing demand for power and water,” Al Tayer noted.

Dewa’s installed generation capacity reached 17.179 GW, while clean power accounts for 20 per cent of the total installed power generation capacity. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100 per cent of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.

Dewa experienced a noteworthy 3.4 per cent increase in its peak demand in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching 10.76 GW.

Meanwhile earlier Parkin Company (Parkin), the largest provider of paid public parking facilities and services in Dubai, announced an update to its electric vehicle (EV) charging partnership with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa). As part of the first phase of this sustainability initiative, Dewa will install new charging stations in the first quarter of 2025. These stations will operate on alternating current (AC) with a capacity of 22 kilowatts x 2 and will be strategically placed across prime parking sites managed by Parkin. Each charging station will serve two parking spaces. Specific on-street parking locations in zones A and C have been strategically selected to host the new charging stations, situated within high-density residential communities with limited or non-existent access to EV charging facilities. Customers will be able to pay the EV charging tariff and parking fee in a single seamless transaction using Parkin’s app and linked digital wallet.

This strategic collaboration will expand the total number of Dewa EV Green Charger stations in Dubai, enabling customers living or working to conveniently access EV charging infrastructure. The improved end-user convenience will contribute to an increase in utilisation at parking spaces adjacent to the EV chargers, enhancing overall operational efficiency and revenue potential.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa, said: “We continue to strengthen green mobility by encouraging the use of eco-friendly electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector. This aligns with the Dubai Green Mobility Strategy 2030 and the Dubai Social Agenda 33, which aim to make Dubai the city offering the best living experience. Our partnership with Parkin to install EV Green Chargers is part of our efforts to provide advanced EV charging infrastructure in Dubai, delivering a seamless experience through charging facilities equipped with state-of-the-art, innovative technologies. These initiatives support the UAE’s climate goals and consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global destination to live, work and invest in.”