Dewa’s first-of-its-kind hydroelectric plant has a completion timeline: The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s 250 MW hydroelectric power plant is 58.5% completed and slated to become operational in 4Q 2024, according to a statement. The plant cost USD 387 mn (AED 1.4 bn) and will have an energy storage capacity of 1.5 GWh with an 80-year operational lifespan.

The details: The facility will store water from the Hatta upper dam, transporting it via a 1.2 km subterranean tunnel where the water will be transformed into kinetic energy. The energy generated from the flow of water through the tunnel will power the plant’s turbines, converting the mechanical energy into electricity to be sent to Dewa’s main grid within 90 seconds.

Solar power will pump water to the plant: The energy needed to route the water through the tunnel will be powered by Dewa's 5 GW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, making the whole project 100% dependent on renewable energy.

One more W in UAE plans to become carbon-neutral by 2050: The UAE began financing clean energy projects over 15 years ago — investing over USD 40 bn in the renewables sector to date — and the country’s production capacity of renewables is set to reach 14 GW by 2030. Clean energy currently makes up 14% of Dubai’s total energy production capacity, WAM reported earlier this month.