Abu dhabi: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced a significant increase in the 2030 capacity target of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park by 60%.
According to Emirates News Agency, the solar park’s total production capacity has already reached 3,860 megawatts (MW). By 2030, this will exceed 8,000 MW, compared to the original plan of 5,000 MW. This increase aligns with the UAE’s broader efforts to enhance the share of renewable and clean energy to support global climate ambitions.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, remarked that the solar park is a strategic project that reinforces Dubai’s leading role in a green economy based on knowledge and innovation. Currently, clean energy constitutes over 21.5 percent of DEWA’s total capacity, and this is expected to rise to 36 percent by 2030, surpassing the original target of 25 percent. This expansion is set to reduce carbon emissions by over 8.5 million tonnes annually.
The solar park is part of the UAE’s commitment to the Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. DEWA is implementing these projects in collaboration with the private sector through the independent power producer (IPP) model, highlighting Dubai’s flexibility in adopting innovative financing and operational models.
The solar park not only symbolizes a major clean energy project but also serves as a platform for innovation and sustainability. It represents Dubai’s vision to become a global hub for the green economy and a model for integrating policy, strategy, and investment in advanced technology.
DEWA has completed five phases of the solar park and is currently working on the sixth phase. It has invited proposals for the seventh phase, which will add 2,000 MW from photovoltaic solar panels and include a 1,400 MW battery storage system. This will be one of the world’s largest solar-plus-storage projects.
The fourth phase of the solar park, which includes 700 MW of concentrated solar power (CSP) and 250 MW of photovoltaic capacity, is a significant achievement in clean energy innovation. It has set four Guinness World Records, including the highest capacity single-operator CSP plant and the tallest CSP tower.