DEWA inaugurates Noor Energy 1 Visitors Centre at the 4th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has inaugurated the ‘Noor Energy 1 Visitors Centre’ at the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The 950 megawatt (MW) phase has investments totalling AED15.78 billion based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman at ACWA Power, and officials from DEWA and Noor Energy 1, which is implementing the fourth phase of the solar park.

The Visitors Centre features an exhibition that chronicles the history of energy as well as future energy technologies. It displays the latest technologies in Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), photovoltaic cells, and the future of green hydrogen. The exhibition uses Virtual Reality (VR) to tour the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to understand the projects and technologies used to produce energy.

“At DEWA, our strategy and plans are guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote sustainability, innovation and the shift towards a green sustainable economy. DEWA’s projects at the solar park using the IPP model constitute one of the key pillars of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of energy from clean energy sources by 2050,” said Al Tayer.

DEWA has launched pioneering initiatives and projects to diversify clean energy sources. These include multiple clean and renewable energy sources and technologies such as solar photovoltaic solar panels, CSP, green hydrogen production using solar power, pumped-storage water technology using clean energy in Hatta, and research into electricity generation from wind power.

A consortium led by DEWA and ACWA Power formed a project company, Noor Energy 1, to design, build, and operate the plant. DEWA owns 51% of the company while ACWA Power holds 25%, and the Silk Road Fund owns 24%.

“When fully operational, Noor Energy 1 will be the largest single-site concentrated solar power plant in the world. This experience centre will allow visitors to understand and witness this remarkable project from a technologies and solutions perspective. Noor Energy 1 has been developed through a strategic partnership with DEWA to realise the ambitious leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a regional centre for green economy and sustainable clean energy,” said Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman at ACWA Power.

The 4th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site investment project that combines CSP and photovoltaic technology using the IPP model. It will use 700MW of CSP (600MW from a parabolic basin complex and 100MW from the solar power tower) and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels.

On its completion, the project will have the largest thermal storage capacity in the world of 15 hours, allowing for energy availability round the clock. The 4th phase will provide clean energy for around 320,000 residences and reduce 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.