Dubai: The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has received 21 Requests for Qualification (RFQs) from international energy companies and consortia for the 800MW 3rd project of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.
A Requests for Qualification is the pre-qualification stage of a procurement process.
This comes shortly after His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the second project of the Solar Park early this month. The project will be operational in April 2017. Last September, Dewa received 95 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from international energy companies. The project tender is expected to be released in January 2016.
“The high interest demonstrated by international companies to participate in the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park reflects the global trust in Dewa and Dubai in general. At Dewa, we work to achieve the objectives set by the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai a global centre for clean energy and green economy. The strategy also aims to provide 7 per cent of Dubai’s energy from clean sources by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050,” said Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, managing director & CEO of Dewa.
“At Dewa, we work to consolidate the foundations of sustainability in Dubai to achieve our vision to become a sustainable innovative world class utility, and draw a roadmap for a brighter and happier future in Dubai. We are steadily increasing our dependence on clean and renewable energy sources. Our resolve reflects the determination of our wise leadership who support the diversification of the energy mix to ensure its security and build a sustainable future for generations to come,” added Al Tayer.
The Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar project in the world. It will produce 1,000MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by 2030, with total investment of Dh50 billion. This supports Dubai Government’s green initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. The solar park includes an innovation centre that includes a number of research and development laboratories in clean energy and will oversee research and development projects, with a total investment of Dh500 million. The solar park hosts a number of world-class facilities.
These include a solar-testing facility to study and evaluate the performance, long-term stability and reliability of the panels under actual local weather conditions. It also collaborates with international organisations on soiling and dust mitigation on photovoltaic equipment. The tests will set a baseline for the development of specifications, tests and standards for photovoltaic equipment in the region.
