Dubai achieves world-record, lowest ever PV tariff for 900 MW solar project

Dubai achieves world-record, lowest ever PV tariff for 900 MW solar project
  • Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and consortium led by the Saudi Arabian company ACWA Power and consisting of Gulf Investment Corporation sign Power Purchase Agreement for the fifth phase of the world’s largest single site solar park
  • USD 570 million project awarded at world-record tariff of 1.6953 dollar cent per kWh

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 29 April 2020: Following its successful Bid Submission on the 9th of October 2019, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) awarded the 900MW photovoltaic fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to the consortium led by ACWA Power, a leading international developer and operator of power and water desalination projects in partnership with Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), a GCC premier principal investor and co-developer in the Gulf. The winning tariff of USD 1.6953 cents/kWh establishes a new global benchmark for Solar Energy.

The progress of this project even as the world is severely impacted by the COVID 19 Pandemic is a testament to DEWA’s unwavering commitment to meeting the energy demands of Dubai with increasing share of renewable energy and reconfirms the confidence of the financial markets in the ability of DEWA and ACWA Power to successfully complete the project and reliably dispatch green electricity for the 25year duration of the contract.

In line with its strategy to support Dubai in its forward-thinking ambitions of becoming a low-carbon sustainable economy, the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park will be the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model when completed with a planned production capacity of 5,000 MW, with investments valued at USD 13.6 billion. When completed, the solar park will save over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The 900 MW 5th phase with an investment of USD 570 Million, will bring the production capacity of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to 2,863 MW. This fifth phase alone is expected to power 270,000 homes and offset carbon emissions amounting to 1.18 million Tons per year in Dubai. The project will use the latest bifacial photovoltaic solar panels, which captures sunlight on both sides of the panel and produces energy with an advanced solar tracking system to increase generation efficiency.

The PPA was signed by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, and Mohammad Abdullah Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power during a virtual signing ceremony.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, extended his wishes during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“The UAE has proved that it has always been proactive and ready for all changes and conditions. The recent developments in the oil industry have proved the importance of the UAE’s track to bid farewell to the last barrel of oil and diversify the energy mix. At DEWA, we are guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make Dubai a global hub for clean energy and green economy. We are building major renewable and clean energy projects. The current operational capacity at the solar park is 1,013MW from photovoltaic solar panels. We have 1,850MW under construction from photovoltaic and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), with future phases to reach 5,000MW by 2030. This supports our efforts to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050,” added Al Tayer.

The 13MW photovoltaic first phase became operational in 2013. The 200MW photovoltaic second phase of the solar park, developed by ACWA Power, was launched in March 2017. The solar park’s photovoltaic third phase has a capacity of 800MW. Work on the fourth phase 950 MW, CSP and PV hybrid Noor Energy 1 is underway and on track by ACWA Power.

Abunayyan highlighted the success of the fifth phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in achieving the lowest solar tariff globally and stressed ACWA Power’s keenness to commence the implementation of the project in accordance with the highest technical and operations standards. “The delivery of the project reinforces the durability and competitiveness of Dubai’s economic landscape under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; which continues its steady and pioneering plans despite the current circumstances, and reconfirms the confidence and attractiveness of the investment environment that Dubai spearheads internationally”.

“We are delighted to have been a reliable and trusted partner for DEWA’s ambitious goals. The fifth phase will witness a prosperous collaboration with Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) and Shanghai Electric which will undoubtedly mark a milestone in the renewable energy sector – not on a regional level only – but on an international scale” Abunayyan added.

This solar park will be a key pillar in fulfilling Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to increase the share of clean energy in Dubai’s total power output to 75% by 2050.

DEWA announced the tender for the project in February 2019, upon which ACWA Power submitted the lowest bid in November 2019 at USD 1.6953 cents/kwh.

DEWA will retain a 60% stake in this latest solar project and be the sole off-taker of power under a 25-year PPA. The 5th phase of the solar park is expected to be commissioned in phases starting Q3 2021.