Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is gearing up for the third phase of its 3,000 megawatt solar park after choosing KPMG as its lead consultant.
Expressions of interest are now being accepted for the 800MW third phase in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar photovoltaic (PV) park, located about 50 kilometres south of Dubai.
This is enough to power more than 130,000 homes a year, according to statistics from the Solar Energy Industry Association. Saudi Arabian companies such as Acwa Power, the winner of the previous 200MW, and the energy division of Abdul Latif Jameel are expected to bid again.
“I can confirm that our solar PV development company, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, will be submitting an expression of interest,” said Roberto de Diego Arozamena, the chief executive of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and Environmental Services.
Acwa Power could not be reached for comment.
Waleed Salman, the executive vice president of business development at Dewa, said in June that the third phase development tender could not be awarded until a consultancy had been chosen.
Eight consultancies were shortlisted in May, including other big names such as EY, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Deloitte.
KPMG’s bid for the contract totalled about Dh10.5 million with work expected to be completed over the next 10 months.
KPMG will help Dewa shortlist companies that meet requirements such as experience and financial capabilities.
The solar park will total 3,000MW by 2030, with 13MW already being fed into the grid and another 200MW expected to come online in two years.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the managing director and chief executive of Dewa, said that about 30 per cent of the engineering work for the 200MW phase has been completed.
The utility has commissioned the Swiss firm ABB to build a Dh250m substation that will connect the solar power generated from the park to Dewa’s grid, which supplies power to residents and businesses of the emirate.
“Another substation with the same capacity will be built to transmit the solar energy of the park,” said Dewa.
lgraves@thenational.ae
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