Al Tayer was briefed by officials from the designated company, Noor Energy 1, on the work progress in the Fourth Phase, which is the largest single-site project that combines Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and photovoltaic technology. This phase uses the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model with investments up to AED 15.78 billion. It is set to provide clean energy for approximately 320,000 residences and reduce carbon emissions by 1.6 million metric tons annually.
The Fourth Phase of the Solar Park uses three hybrid technologies to produce clean energy: 600 MW from a parabolic basin complex (three units of 200 MW each), 100 MW from the world’s tallest solar power tower at 262.44 meters (based on Molten Salt technology), and 250 MW from photovoltaic solar panels.
So far, 717 MW have been commissioned from this phase, which will have the largest thermal storage capacity in the world at 15 hours, allowing for energy availability around the clock.
The Fourth Phase included the installation of more than 790,000 photovoltaic solar panels and more than 63,600 parabolic trough collectors (PT). The project integrates 70,000 mirrors (heliostats) that track the sun's movement. The anticipated completion of the Fourth Phase is set for Q1 of 2024.
The First Phase of the MBR solar park project is complete, covering 100% of the 100 MW from the solar tower, 200 MW from the parabolic basin complex, and 217 MW from photovoltaic solar panels. The Second Phase, with 200 MW from the parabolic basin complex, is 98.5% complete. The Third Phase, consisting of 200 MW from the parabolic basin complex and 33 MW from photovoltaic solar panels, is 87.1% complete.
During the visit, Al Tayer was accompanied by Nasser Lootah, executive vice president of Generation; Hussain Lootah, executive vice president of Transmission Power; Yousef Jebril, executive vice president of Power, Water & Planning; Mohammad Jame, acting vice president of Clean Energy and Diversification; as well as other DEWA officials.
The MBR Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world, with a planned total capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030. The Solar Park’s projects constitute one of the key pillars of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
The commissioned solar energy projects within the park currently total 2,427 MW, contributing to approximately 16.3% of Dubai's energy mix. This percentage is expected to increase to 24% by 2026 upon the completion of the Sixth Phase and the ongoing construction of subsequent phases.
The fourth phase of the solar park supports DEWA’s efforts to increase the share of renewable and clean energy and energy storage. DEWA is implementing other energy storage projects, including the 250 MW hydroelectric power plant in Hatta, with a storage capacity of 1,500-megawatt hours, and the Green Hydrogen project, which produces and stores green hydrogen using solar energy.
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