The fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park (MBR Solar Park), being built by DEWA is likely to have the largest energy storage capacity (15 hrs) in the world, on completion, which will ensure energy available round-the-clock.
This phase will have the capacity to offer clean energy to 320,000 residences, and reduce 1.6mn tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The 4th phase is the largest investment project in the world, which combines CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) and Photovoltaic Solar Power with investments totalling Dh.15.78bn based on the independent power producer (IPP) model.
The model makes use of three hybrid technologies to produce clean energy – 600MW from parabolic basin complex, 100MW from a solar power tower and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels.
A group led by DEWA and ACWA Power, has formed a project company, namely Noor Energy 1, to design, build and operate the plant.
The fourth phase will get operational from third quarter of 2021.
About MBR project
Spanning an area of 44 Sq. Kms., the project has already bagged several world records, including lowest levelized cost of electricity ($7.3 cents per kWh), for the 700MW CSP and $2.4 centres per kWh for the 250MW photovoltaic solar panels.
It also features the world’s tallest solar power tower (262.44m).
The MSR on top of the solar power tower is the core and most important part of the CSP plant, which receives solar radiation and converts it into thermal energy.
The MBR Solar Park is the world’s largest single-site solar park. It has a planned total capacity of 5000MW, and by 2030, it features an investment of Dh.50bn. The total capacity of operational projects at the Solar Park, which uses photovoltaic solar panels is 1013MW. Further, DEWA is creating an additional capacity of 1850MW using solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).
