The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched a tender for the up to 2 GW seventh phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, located in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The tendered solar PV project will have a capacity ranging from 1.6 GW to 2 GW and will also feature 1 GW/6 GWh of battery capacity. The project will be developed on an independent power project (IPP) basis, and the selected developer will secure a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with DEWA. Bids can be submitted until 25 March 2025.
The total planned capacity of the AED50bn (US$13.6bn) Al Maktoum project will amount to 5 GW, to be commissioned by 2030. The 950 MW fourth phase of the project was inaugurated in December 2023, while the 900 MW fifth phase is under construction. DEWA and Masdar announced the financial closing of the 1.8 GW sixth phase of the project in February 2024.
The UAE’s solar capacity increased from 0.6 GW in 2018 to just over 3 GW in 2023, representing about 7% of the country’s total installed capacity and power generation.