Name and Location
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park project – Phase 2, Dubai, UAE.

Client
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

Project Description
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park will be the largest facility of its kind in the Middle East.

The 13 MWac first phase of the project involved the installation of 152 880 photovoltaic (PV) solar modules.

The 200 MWac second phase of the project will be powered by more than 2.36-million solar modules and will be built over almost 4.5-million square metres.

The plant will produce enough energy to power 30 000 average homes in the UAE and will displace more than 469 650 t/y of carbon dioxide.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
The park’s first phase went on line in 2013.

The second phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2017.

Latest Developments
First Solar has signed an agreement to supply its high-performance PV modules to power the second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park. First Solar modules are powering the 13 MWac first phase of the solar park.

Further, ABB has been awarded a turnkey contract to extend a substation that will integrate more solar energy into the grid. ABB will be responsible for the design, engineering, supply, installation and commissioning of the substation’s extension.

The group will supply three bays of 400 kV each and 11 bays of compact 132 kV gas-insulated switchgear, power transformers, and IEC 61850-based open architecture automation and controls.

The project is expected to be completed in 2016. Meanwhile, the tender for the 800 MW third phase of the project is expected to be released in the third quarter of this year.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
ACWA Power and TSK (development, construction and operation of the power project), ABB (design, engineering, supply, installation and commissioning of substation extension) and First Solar (solar PV modules).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
DEWA, tel +971 4 324 4444.
ACWA Power, tel +966 11 283 5555 or fax +966 11 283 5500.
TSK, tel +34 670 898 785.
First Solar media, Reuven Proença, tel +971 4 4559 410 or email reuven.proenca@firstsolar.com.