Dubai's solar park mega project now accounts for more than 15 per cent of the emirate's energy production capacity, officials announced on Monday.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is able to generate 2,327 megawatts, cementing its status as a key driver of Dubai's renewable energy push.
The park, being built by the emirate's electricity and water authority, is planned to have a total capacity of 5,000MW by 2030.
It is the world's largest single-site solar park using the Independent Power Producer model.
The project recently added 200MW from the 900MW fifth phase of the scheme using photovoltaic solar panels, contributing to the total production capacity of energy in Dubai, which has now hit 14,817MW.
The solar park is responsible for 15.7 per cent of the emirate's energy capacity, Dewa said.
The fifth phase is aimed at providing clean energy to over 270,000 Dubai residences and reducing carbon emissions by 1.8 million tonnes a year.
The emirate is working to “promote sustainability and the shift toward a sustainable green economy by increasing the share of renewable and clean energy within Dubai's energy mix,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, chief executive of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.
Energy demand in Dubai reached 53,180 gigawatt-hours last year, compared with 50,401 in 2021. The rise in demand reflects the strong performance of all sectors in Dubai, in addition to the growth in population and expansion of key activities.
Dubai aims to generate 25 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050 as part of its clean energy target.
Dewa is building the world's largest solar park in the Dubai desert, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, in a bid to reduce reliance on natural gas and diversify its power sources.
The solar park has attracted a total of around Dh50 billion ($13.6 billion) of investments, thanks in part to its usage of the IPP model.
When completed, it “will contribute to reducing more than 6.5 tonnes of carbon emissions annually”, said Mr Al Tayer.
Dewa set a world record in 2020 by receiving the lowest bid of $1.6953 cents per kilowatt for the 900MW fifth phase of the solar park.
The sixth phase, which is expected to operate between 2024 and 2026, will have a capacity of 1,800MW using photovoltaic solar panels.
The UAE plans to invest Dhs600 billion in clean energy projects as part of its Net Zero 2050 strategy.
It is also building the world's largest solar plant in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region, with a total capacity of 2 gigawatts.
The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
5pm: Sweihan – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Shamakh, Fernando Jara (jockey), Jean-Claude Picout (trainer)
5.30pm: Al Shamkha – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Daad, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
6pm: Shakbout City – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Ghayyar, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Gold Silver, Sandro Paiva, Ibrahim Aseel
7pm: Masdar City – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Khalifa City – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Ranchero, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
Results
5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
