Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park#Phase 4
{{short description|Solar park in the Emirate of Dubai}}
{{redirect|Noor Energy 1|other power plants called Noor|Noor (disambiguation)#Power plants}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
| coordinates = {{coord|24.7547|55.365|region:UAE_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = United Arab Emirates
| location = Seih Al-Dahal, Dubai
| status =
| construction_began = 2012
| commissioned = 22 October 2013 (first phase)
| decommissioned =
| cost =
| owner = Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)
| operator = ACWA Power
| employees =
| solar_type = Combined PV and CSP plant
| solar_csp_technology =
| solar_concentration =
| solar_collectors =
| solar_collectors_area =
| solar_aperture_area =
| ps_site_area = {{convert|77|km2|mi2}}
| solar_site_resource = 2150 kWh/(m2, yr)
| ps_units_operational = 2,860 MWp
| ps_units_manu_model =
| ps_units_uc = 1,800 MWp
| ps_units_planned =
| ps_units_cancelled =
| ps_units_decommissioned =
| ps_thermal_capacity =
| ps_heating_capacity =
| ps_electrical_capacity =
| ps_electrical_cap_fac = 24.6%
| ps_storage_capacity =
| ps_annual_generation = appr. ~2800 GWh/yr
| website =
| extra =
}}
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a solar park spread over a total area of {{cvt|77|km2}} in Saih Al-Dahal, about {{cvt|50 |km}} south of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).{{Cite news|url=https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/customer/innovation/renewable-energy/solar-park|title=Dubai Electricity & Water Authority {{!}} Solar Park|access-date=2017-03-24|language=en}}
It is one of the world's largest renewable projects based on an independent power producer (IPP) model. Besides solar farms using PV technology, the project includes concentrating solar power (CSP), with the total capacity of the entire project planned to reach more than 4,000 megawatts.{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Joshua S. |date=2023-08-17 |title=UAE awards contract for huge 1.8GW solar park addition at record low prices |url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/uae-awards-contract-for-huge-1-8gw-solar-park-addition-at-record-low-prices/ |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=RenewEconomy |language=en-AU}} It is estimated that the park will be generating 5,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030.
The plant was implemented by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). The first phase of the project was commissioned on 22 October 2013. At the end of 2020 the solar PV complex reached a generating capacity of 1.013 GW with the aim to reach 5GW by 2030.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/media-publications/latest-news/2019/03/dewa-acwa-power-and-silk-road-fund-reach-financial-closing-on-950mw-4th-phase|title=Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA), ACWA Power, and Silk Road Fund reach financial closing on 950MW 4th phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park|website=www.dewa.gov.ae}} The 4th (700 MW CSP + 250 MW PV, known as Noor Energy 1) and 5th phase (900 MW PV) are under construction.
The 200-megawatt second phase of the project drew global attention as the winning bid of the tender set a new record-low tariff of only US ¢5.89 per kilowatt-hour. This is about 20% lower than any previous, unsubsidized power purchase agreement (PPA) the world has seen before. The PPA is set to a 25-year time frame.http://ameinfo.com/ [http://ameinfo.com/energy/renewables/alternative-energies/acwa-power-wins-200-megawatts-260mwp-phase-ii-mohammed-bin-rashid-solar-parkby-dubai-electricity-water-authority/ ACWA Power wins 200 megawatts (260MWp) phase II Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority], 17 January 2015{{cite web|author=Craig Morris|date=27 November 2014|title=Solar in Dubai reaches record low price|url=http://www.renewablesinternational.net/solar-in-dubai-reaches-record-low-price/150/452/83692/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329104828/http://www.renewablesinternational.net/solar-in-dubai-reaches-record-low-price/150/452/83692/|archive-date=29 March 2017|access-date=14 May 2015|publisher=RenewablesInternational.net}}
Thanks to a storage capacity of up to 15 hours, the plant can produce power day and night.
History
The solar park was announced by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in January 2012.
= Phase 1 =
The first phase of the park was a 13 MWp solar farm (DEWA 13) constructed by First Solar.[http://www.undp.org/content/dam/rbas/doc/Energy%20and%20Environment/The%20State%20of%20Dubai%27s%20Energy%20and%20Its%20Path%20to%20Green%20Economy.pdf STATE OF REPORT: Dubai 2014], United Nations Development Programme, {{ISBN|978-9948-20-456-5}} (Note: In the original document, the ISBN is printed as "5-456-20-9948-978", which reads right to left.) It was commissioned on 22 October 2013. It uses 152,880 FS-385 black CdTe modules and generates about 28 GWh per year which corresponds to a capacity factor of 24.6%.[http://www.firstsolar.com/en/about-us/projects/dewa-13-solar-plant DEWA 13 Solar Plant], First SolarFirstSolar [http://www.firstsolar.com/~/media/downloads/first%20solar%20dewa%20factsheet-english.ashx Factsheet], PDF
= Phase 2 =
The second phase is a 200 MWp photovoltaic plant built at a cost of US$320 million by a consortium led by ACWA Power and Spanish company TSK. The second phase was scheduled to be commissioned by April 2017.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-15/dubai-doubles-size-of-solar-plant-to-make-world-s-cheapest-power.html Dubai Doubles Power-Plant Size to Make Cheapest Solar Energy], Bloomberg, Anthony DiPaola, January 15, 2015 It was completed ahead of time, and commissioned on 22 March 2017. TSK served as the primary contractor for the project, while ACWA Power will operate the plant. The phase includes 2.3 million photovoltaic solar panels spread over an area of 4.5 km2. ACWA Power secured a 27-year debt financing loan worth $344 million from the First Gulf Bank, the National Commercial Bank and the Samba Financial Group.{{Cite web|url=http://www.power-technology.com/news/newsuae-pm-inaugurates-second-phase-of-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum-solar-plant-5768541|title=UAE PM inaugurates second phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar plant|website=Power Technology|access-date=2017-03-24}} The plant uses First Solar's CdTe modules.{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/first-solar-modules-to-power-landmark-200mw-solar-photovoltaic-project-in-dubai-2015-06-23|title=First Solar Modules to Power Landmark 200MW Solar Photovoltaic Project in Dubai|date=23 June 2015|work=MarketWatch}}
The 200 MWp second phase of the project caused worldwide attention, as the winning bid of the tender set a new record-low tariff of only US ¢5.89 per kilowatt-hour. This is about 20% lower than any previous, unsubsidized power purchase agreement (PPA) the world has seen before. The PPA is set to a 25-year time frame.{{cite web|url=http://www.renewablesinternational.net/solar-in-dubai-reaches-record-low-price/150/452/83692/|title=Solar in Dubai reaches record low price|date=27 November 2014|publisher=RenewablesInternational.net|author=Craig Morris|access-date=24 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329104828/http://www.renewablesinternational.net/solar-in-dubai-reaches-record-low-price/150/452/83692/|archive-date=29 March 2017|url-status=dead}} Assuming the same capacity factor as for phase 1 (24.6%) the annual production will be approximately 430 GWh/yr.
= Phase 3 =
In April 2015, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) publicly announced the third phase of 800 MWp.SolarServer.com [http://www.solarserver.com/solar-magazine/solar-news/current/2015/kw17/dewa-announces-800-mw-third-phase-of-the-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum-solar-park.html DEWA announces 800 MW third Phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711204014/http://www.solarserver.com/solar-magazine/solar-news/current/2015/kw17/dewa-announces-800-mw-third-phase-of-the-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum-solar-park.html |date=2015-07-11 }}, 21 April 2015 A consortium led by Abu Dubai Future Energy Company (Masdar) was awarded the contract for phase three in June 2016. The third phase was completed in 2020.
= Phase 4 (Noor Energy 1)=
The characteristics of the 4th phase of the solar park changed several times during its conception. Originally, DEWA released a request for the Expression of Interest (EOI) for a 200 MWe CSP project in October 2016 and announced the winning bid at 9.45 US cents/kWh purchase price in June 2017.{{cite web|title=Dubai set for world's cheapest night-time solar power|date=5 June 2017|url=https://www.thenational.ae/business/dubai-set-for-world-s-cheapest-night-time-solar-power-1.35494|accessdate=24 December 2017}} Three months later in September 2017 the final project was revealed at 700 MWe consisting of 600 MWe parabolic trough and a 100 MWe solar power tower both featuring large molten-salt thermal energy storage, while pointing out the record breaking purchase price of 7.30 US cents/kWh.{{cite web|title=ACWA Power / Shanghai Power Win Dubai Solar Auction with 7.3 Cents.CSP|date=16 September 2017|url=http://www.solarpaces.org/acwa-power-shanghai-power-win-dubai-solar-auction-7-3-cents-csp/|accessdate=24 December 2017}} However, analysts highlight that factors such as very low financing cost and an extraordinary long 35-year PPA contributed to this very low figure.Lilliestam, J. & Pitz-Paal, R. (2018) Concentrating solar power for less than USD 0.07 per kWh: finally the breakthrough? https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2018.06.002 Later in 2018 it was announced that 250 MW of solar PV would be added to the project {{Cite web|url=https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/media-publications/latest-news/2018/11/mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum-solar-park-adds-250mw|title=Dubai Electricity & Water Authority | Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park adds 250MW to its 4th phase to reach 950MW taking total investment to AED 16 billion|website=www.dewa.gov.ae}} now named Noor Energy 1.{{Cite web|url=https://www.acwapower.com/en/projects/noor-energy-1/|title=ACWA POWER | Noor Energy 1|date=February 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217080445/https://www.acwapower.com/en/projects/noor-energy-1/|archive-date=2021-02-17}}
The solar power tower is the tallest in the world, standing at {{cvt|260|m}}. The Noor Energy 1 solar complex will have 15 hours of energy storage capacity, and be able to deliver power 24 hours a day. It boasts of being "the largest single-site concentrated solar power plant in the world".{{cite web | title=About | website=Noor Energy | url=https://noorenergy.ae/a-about/ | access-date=11 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211011444/https://noorenergy.ae/a-about/| archive-date=11 December 2023| url-status=live}} It uses the technology known as concentrated solar thermal power, or CSP. Mirrors are used to concentrate the sun's rays, which are then beamed into the tower, which acts as a receptor.{{cite web | last=Leeuwen | first=Hans van | title=COP28: Aussie companies bring vast Dubai energy solution Down Under | website=Australian Financial Review | date=7 December 2023 | url=https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/aussie-companies-bring-vast-dubai-energy-solution-down-under-20231208-p5eq14 | access-date=11 December 2023}} The plant is also the largest CSP in the world. It Noor Energy 1 covers {{cvt|44|km2}}. Apart from the tower, there are three other units, all 200-megawatt parabolic trough CSP units. Together these additional units generate 600 megawatts of electricity in the daytime and continue for 12 hours at night. Noor Energy 1 is able to deliver a gigawatt of power in total.{{cite web | last=Pincus | first=Ward | title=Welcome to the CSP resurgence | website=Siemens Energy | date=6 December 2023 | url=https://www.siemens-energy.com/global/en/home/stories/csp-resurgence-dubai.html | access-date=11 December 2023}}
Noor Energy 1 cost {{USD}}3.8 billion to construct, but there are no ongoing fuel costs to consider.{{cite web | last=Mercer | first=Daniel | title=In the UAE desert, a shining beacon looms large. Experts say it could help Australia go green | website=ABC News (Australia) | date=10 December 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-11/inside-the-worlds-biggest-solar-thermal-plant/103211884 | access-date=11 December 2023}}
= Phase 5 =
On 21 November 2019, DEWA announced the selection of ACWA Power and Gulf Investment Corporation as preferred EPC and financer respectively, to build and operate the fifth phase, a 900 MW solar power plant based on photovoltaic technology.{{Cite web|title=Acwa Power consortium to build 900MW MBR Solar Park Phase 5|url=https://www.constructionweekonline.com/projects-and-tenders/260746-acwa-power-consortium-to-build-900mw-mbr-solar-park-phase-5|access-date=2020-09-22|website=Construction Week Online Middle East|language=en}} The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2021.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}
= Phase 6 =
DEWA awarded a contract for the sixth phase with 1,800 MW to Masdar in August 2023 with a bid price of $US16.24/MWh.