The award of the project to Masdar was announced by DEWA MD & CEO HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer at a press conference at the Armani hotel in Dubai. Also in attendance was HE Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State, and Chairman of Masdar, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, Executive Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents from DEWA, the senior management team of Masdar, and local and international media.
The Masdar-led consortium includes the Spanish companies FRV (Fotowatio Renewable Ventures) and Gransolar Group and it was selected following a competition involving the evaluation of numerous rival offers. DEWA received 95 Expressions of Interest (EOI) from international energy companies, in response to its tender request over 8-29 September 2015. It requested companies to submit their requests for qualification before November 2015. This was followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP), to qualified bidders on 28 December 2015. DEWA received 5 bids from international organisations of which the lowest recorded bid at the opening of the envelopes was 2.99 US cents per kW/h. In preparation for the next phase, DEWA will develop shareholder and power-purchase agreements that will be signed in Q4 of 2016.
“The selection of the Masdar-led consortium is a testament to the vision of the UAE leadership, the foresight of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the commitment of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority to realise ambitious renewable energy projects” said H.E Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. “It also reflects the technical expertise and proven track record that Masdar has built over the last ten years. The UAE firmly believes that meeting the world’s growing energy demand requires a mix of energy sources, where we build on our existing assets of conventional energy, complementing them with alternative sources. By using multiple sources of energy such as natural gas, nuclear and solar, we are delivering both baseload generating capacity and the ability to meet peak energy demand efficiently and cost effectively.”
Al Jaber added that Phase three of the solar farm provides a clear signal that solar power is a reliable and commercially viable technology, and a key part of the UAE’s well-diversified energy strategy. Dubai is aiming to become the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world with a clean energy target of 25 percent of Dubai’s total power output by 2030 and 75 percent by 2050.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park is expected to become operational by 2020 and is the first of its kind in the region. The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 aims to diversify the energy mix, relying on innovation and R&D.
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