About Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al-Dahal

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a large-scale solar energy project located in Seih Al-Dahal, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Named after the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, the park is one of the largest solar parks in the world and a significant step towards achieving the UAE’s goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in its energy mix.

The solar park was launched in 2012 and has been developed in several phases, with the ultimate goal of achieving a total capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030. The park is being developed by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and is expected to be the largest single-site solar park in the world once it is completed.

The park uses both photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies to generate electricity. The PV panels are used to generate electricity during the day, while the CSP plants use mirrors to focus sunlight on a central tower to heat a fluid that produces steam, which drives a turbine to generate electricity. The park also includes a large-scale energy storage system, which helps to ensure a stable supply of electricity even when the sun is not shining.

As of 2021, the park’s installed capacity is around 2,300 MW, which has already contributed significantly to reducing Dubai’s carbon footprint. The solar park is expected to reduce Dubai’s carbon emissions by approximately 6.5 million tons per year once it reaches its full capacity. This will help to mitigate the impact of climate change and contribute to the UAE’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is not only a major achievement in the field of renewable energy but also a symbol of the UAE’s commitment to sustainable development and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.

Phases of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al-Dahal

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al-Dahal, Dubai, has been developed in several phases. Here is an overview of the different phases of the solar park:

1. Phase 1: The first phase of the solar park was launched in 2013 and had a capacity of 13 megawatts (MW). It used photovoltaic (PV) technology to generate electricity.
2. Phase 2: The second phase of the solar park was launched in 2017 and had a capacity of 200 MW. It included both PV and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies and had an energy storage capacity of 15 hours.
3. Phase 3: The third phase of the solar park was launched in 2018 and had a capacity of 800 MW. It included both PV and CSP technologies and had an energy storage capacity of 15 hours.
4. Phase 4: The fourth phase of the solar park was launched in 2020 and had a capacity of 950 MW. It included both PV and CSP technologies and had an energy storage capacity of 15 hours.
5. Phase 5: The fifth and final phase of the solar park is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by 2030. It will have a capacity of 900 MW and will include both PV and CSP technologies.

Once the solar park is completed, it is expected to have a total capacity of 5,000 MW, making it one of the largest solar parks in the world. The park is being developed by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and is a key part of the UAE’s strategy to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix.

Benefits of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al-Dahal, Dubai, offers several benefits, including:

1. Clean energy: The solar park generates electricity from renewable sources, mainly the sun. This means that the energy produced is clean and does not produce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, helping to mitigate the impact of climate change.
2. Energy security: By diversifying its energy mix and relying more on renewable energy, the UAE can reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and ensure a more stable supply of electricity in the long term.
3. Economic benefits: The solar park has created jobs and stimulated economic growth in the region. It has attracted foreign investment and helped to develop the local renewable energy industry.
4. Improved air quality: By reducing its reliance on fossil fuels, the UAE can also improve air quality in the region, reducing the negative health impacts of air pollution.
5. Carbon reduction: The solar park has already contributed significantly to reducing Dubai’s carbon footprint, and once it reaches its full capacity, it is expected to reduce the UAE’s carbon emissions by approximately 6.5 million tons per year.
6. Technological innovation: The solar park has stimulated technological innovation in the field of renewable energy, helping to drive down the cost of solar and energy storage technologies.

Cost of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al-Dahal

The total cost of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al-Dahal, Dubai, is not publicly available. However, it is known that the solar park has been developed in several phases, each with its own budget. Here are some figures:

1. Phase 1: The first phase of the solar park, which had a capacity of 13 MW, cost approximately $34 million.
2. Phase 2: The second phase of the solar park, which had a capacity of 200 MW, cost approximately $326 million.
3. Phase 3: The third phase of the solar park, which had a capacity of 800 MW, cost approximately $871 million.
4. Phase 4: The fourth phase of the solar park, which had a capacity of 950 MW, cost approximately $1.4 billion.
5. Phase 5: The fifth and final phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a 900 MW project that was announced in 2020. The project is expected to cost around $564 million and will be developed by ACWA Power, a Saudi-based company that has previously worked on other phases of the solar park.

Location

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al-Dahal is located in the Dubai desert, approximately 50 kilometers south of Dubai city center. The park covers an area of 44 square kilometers, making it one of the largest solar parks in the world.

Future of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al-Dahal

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Seih Al-Dahal is a long-term project that is expected to continue developing and expanding in the future. Here are some of the expected developments:

1. Expansion: The solar park is planned to have a total capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030, making it one of the largest solar parks in the world. This expansion will involve the construction of additional phases, each with a capacity of several hundred megawatts.
2. Energy storage: As the share of renewable energy in Dubai’s energy mix increases, there will be a greater need for energy storage to ensure a stable supply of electricity. The solar park is expected to incorporate energy storage technologies, such as batteries, to store excess solar power and release it when needed.
3. Green hydrogen: The solar park is expected to play a key role in the UAE’s plans to produce green hydrogen, a clean fuel that can be used to power vehicles and industrial processes. The solar park will provide renewable electricity to power the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen.
4. Technological innovation: The development of the solar park is expected to drive technological innovation in the field of renewable energy, leading to the development of new and more efficient solar and energy storage technologies.

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