His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has officially launched the world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) project as part of the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai.
The fourth phase, boasting a capacity of 950 megawatts (MW), stands as the most significant investment project leveraging three hybrid technologies: 600MW from a parabolic basin complex, 100MW from the CSP tower, and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels. Built at an investment of Dh15.78 billion, using the independent power producer (IPP) model, the project features the tallest solar tower in the world, at 263.126 metres, and the largest thermal energy storage capacity with a capacity of 5,907-megawatt hours (MWh), according to the Guinness World Records.
“The UAE has a clear vision to transform itself into one of the world’s most sustainable nations,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. “Driven by the objectives of the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategy, we continue to expand our sustainable energy mix and embrace renewable and alternative energies, shaping not only our nation’s future but also contributing significantly to the global effort to combat climate change.”
“Our dedication to sustainability is a testament to our resolve to contribute to fostering a resilient and prosperous future for all of humanity,” he added.
The project features 70,000 heliostats that track the sun’s movement. The Molten Salt Receiver (MSR) on top of the solar power tower is the CSP plant’s core and the most important part. It receives solar radiation and turns it into thermal energy. The MSR contains over 1,000 thin tubes that enable the absorption of sun rays and their transfer to the molten salt within these tubes. This project will provide approximately 320,000 residences with clean and sustainable energy. It will reduce carbon emissions by about 1.6 million tonnes annually, enhancing Dubai’s position as a leading global hub in clean, renewable energy and climate action.
“The solar park, whose current capacity has reached 2,627MW, is the cornerstone to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
Al Tayer acknowledged the efforts of DEWA’s partners in executing this groundbreaking project, adhering to the highest international standards and using state-of-the-art technologies. A consortium led by DEWA and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power established Noor Energy 1 as a project company entrusted with the design, construction, and operation of the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. DEWA holds a 51% stake in the company, ACWA Power holds 25%, and the Chinese Silk Road Fund owns 24%.
