Dubai: The second phase of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park that will generate 200megawatts of clean energy — enough to power 50,000 homes annually — was opened on Monday morning.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the world's largest single-site solar park off Al Qudra in Dubai.
The solar park is one of the major projects of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).
Watch: Shaikh Mohammad arrives at the inauguration of the second phase of Solar Park in Al Qudra
"The UAE today leads a number of strategies and investments in the field of clean and renewable energy. The project is turned over ahead of schedule and this is through the support of His Highness, Shaikh Mohammad.
"The phase that His Highness is inaugurating today is the first and largest project of this kind in the region based on the IPP model," Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dewa.
.@HHShkMohd inaugurates 2nd phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The phase produces 200 (MW) enough to power 50,000 household pic.twitter.com/StyYXT64vA
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 20, 2017
"This is part of our journey as we bid farewell to the last drop of oil by investing heavily on solar projects. The solar park reflects our commitment to build a better and brighter future for future generations to come."
With more 2.3 million thin-film photovoltaic panels, the second phase can save annual carbon emissions of up to 214,000 tonnes.
The second phase was implemented in partnership with the consortium led by the main developer, ACWA Power from Saudi Arabia and the main contractor, Spain's TSK, with an investment of Dh1.2 billion.
The solar park is a multi-phase project that's expected to generate 1,000MW by 2020 and 5,000MW by 2030 for a total investment of Dh50 billion.
Once completed, the solar park will produce clean energy that could reduce carbon emissions by more than 6.5 million tonnes annually.
