Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has added 800 megawatts (MW) of clean energy to its production capacity in 2025, marking a significant milestone in its mission to expand the adoption of renewable energy across the emirate. The increase comes from the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, raising the solar park’s total capacity to 3,860MW using photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies.
This latest addition brings clean energy’s share in DEWA’s overall energy mix to approximately 21.5%, reinforcing Dubai’s leadership in the global transition to sustainable power.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, stated:
“Our strategies are aligned with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to position Dubai as a global hub for clean and renewable energy. The solar park is a cornerstone of this vision and supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which aim for 100% clean energy by 2050.”
According to Al Tayer, the solar park’s capacity is expected to reach 7,260 MW by 2030, accounting for 34% of DEWA’s total energy mix and reducing annual carbon emissions by eight million tonnes.
Timeline of the Solar Park’s Expansion:
- Phase 1 (2013): 13MW using PV panels
- Phase 2 (2017): 200MW PV, first regional IPP-based solar project
- Phase 3 (2020): 800MW PV with single-axis tracking
- Phase 4 (2023): 950MW using CSP and PV (600MW parabolic, 100MW tower, 250MW PV)
- Phase 5 (2023): 900MW PV
- Phase 6 (Ongoing): 1,800MW PV (800MW added in 2025)
DEWA has also launched the bidding process for the seventh phase, which will add 1,600 MW, expandable to 2,000 MW, using PV solar panels and an advanced battery energy storage system (BESS) with a 1,000 MW/6,000 MWh capacity. This will make it one of the world’s most significant solar-plus-storage projects, implemented under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.
With consistent expansion and innovation, DEWA continues to drive Dubai’s clean energy transformation, ensuring long-term sustainability and energy security for future generations.
–Input WAM
