UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad inaugurated phase one of solar park to mark World Energy Day today.

Today Dubai flipped the switch on  its new Dh120 million solar power station to feed electricity harnessed from the sun into the Dubai power grid.

Achieving a major milestone on the way to sustainable development, bolstering Dubai?s power generating capacity will help the emirate on its journey to diversify energy sources.

A 13 megawatt solar project, phase one of the 280,000 square metre Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Solar Park, was inaugurated by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at Seih Al Dahal, 50 kilometres south of Dubai.

The project, undertaken by Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) and operated by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), is expected to generate 24 million kilowatts of power per year.

Announced in January 2012, the solar park is expected to generate 1,000 megawatts of power by 2030 and will be completed over several phases.

Work on phase two will start in six months and is expected to be complete in three years.

The solar park is part of Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 that aims to have an energy mix consisting of five per cent solar, 12 per cent nuclear, 12 per cent clean coal and 71 per cent natural gas by 2030.

 This plant will go a long way in setting the trend for non-conventional energy resources in the region and by 2020 Dubai will have more than 1 per cent of our electricity generated through solar energy.

The sustainability programme also includes building a self-sustaining solar-powered landmark tower at the park.

Apart from building the infrastructure, the project also aims to instil values of sustainability among local population while also building local capacity.

In the next phases, Dewa and DSCE are jointly exploring options to have rooftop solar installations that can further help in reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Solar energy is the most abundant resource that UAE has and I agree it is the best and most sustainable way to generate electricity in the region. With the Mohammad Bin Rashid Solar Park, Dubai has set a new trend and benchmark for the region.

The solar plant uses a combination of photovoltaic and concentrated solar power technologies.

In phase one 152,000 photocells have been installed and connected to 13 step-up transformers in inverter buildings. The plant reduces Co2 emissions by 15,000 tonnes annually.

The solar park, when completed, will be one of the largest solar installations in the region.

 Image Credit :Gulf News

Source : Gulf News