Reforming Energy Storage: DEWA's Visionary Approach to Sustainability
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority continues to spearhead advancements in clean energy storage technologies, aligning with the global commitment to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With a focus on solar power, DEWA is pursuing various energy storage projects, making significant strides towards achieving a sustainable and secure energy future.
DEWA's commitment is evident in its adherence to the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Addressing the crucial aspect of energy storage, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, emphasised its significance in ensuring energy sustainability and increasing reliance on clean and renewable energy sources.
Among the notable projects is the recently inaugurated 950MW fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, marking the world's largest single-site solar park. The project utilises three hybrid technologies—600MW from a parabolic basin complex, 100MW from a solar power tower, and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels. With an investment of AED15.78 billion, the project features the tallest solar tower globally, standing at 263.126 meters, and boasts the largest thermal energy storage capacity, setting a Guinness World Record with 5,907 MWh.
DEWA is also implementing a pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta, utilising water from the Hatta Dam and a newly constructed upper reservoir. This innovative system achieves high efficiency in power generation and storage, with a rapid 90-second response to electricity demand and a storage capacity of 1,500 MWh. The AED 1.421 billion project is expected to be completed in Q1 of 2025.
An effort by DEWA is the Green Hydrogen Project at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa. Producing approximately 400 kilograms of hydrogen daily, the project stores hydrogen and converts it back into electrical energy. The hydrogen is also utilised at ENOC Group's first green hydrogen station at Expo City Dubai, fueling approximately 32 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles at a rapid pace.
DEWA is actively engaged in battery storage experiments, filing a patent for an innovative method to enhance the performance of electrodes in lithium-ion batteries and other advanced systems. This aligns with the pilot projects at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, including the use of Tesla's lithium-ion battery solution and a sodium sulphur energy solution in collaboration with AMPLEX–NGK, marking the region's first utility-scale energy storage pilot project.
In its pursuit of a sustainable future, DEWA is consistently implementing technologies, supporting the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. As a global leader in clean energy adoption, DEWA's initiatives contribute significantly to the transition to a low-carbon and environmentally responsible energy landscape.
