Mubasher: The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) will add 600 megawatts (MW) of clean energy capacity using photovoltaic solar panels and concentrated solar power (CSP) this year.

This will increase DEWA’s total power capacity from clean energy to 1,613 MW compared to 1,013 MW currently, according to Managing Director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer.

DEWA plans to next month commission the 300MW first stage of the fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

In addition, DEWA will commission the world's tallest CSP tower at 262.44 metres with a capacity of 100MW in September and 200MW from the parabolic trough as part of the fourth phase of the solar park by the end of 2021, according to an official statement.

DEWA will add 300MW from photovoltaic panels and an equal amount from concentrated solar power. Accordingly, clean capacity in Dubai’s energy mix will reach around 10% in July and 12% by the end of the year.

 “This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. Since its launch, the solar park’s projects have received considerable interest from global developers, which reflects the confidence of international investors in DEWA’s major projects,” Al Tayer said.

Al Tayer emphasised that DEWA's major projects in cooperation with the private sector, based on the, contribute to the economic growth of the Emirate. Through this model, DEWA, making Dubai a global benchmark for solar power prices.

DEWA says it has attracted investments of around AED 40 billion from the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, through which it received the lowest solar energy prices, or levelised cost of energy, globally five consecutive times.