Another 200 MW of solar energy for Dubai: The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has commissioned 200 MW from the 900 MW fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park ahead of schedule, according to a statement. This leaves only 100 MW remaining to achieve the completion of the park’s fifth phase, with the sixth phase pegged to become operational in stages between 2024 and 2026, the statement notes. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the world’s largest single-site solar park using the IPP model.

This phase alone is expected to offset 1.2 mn tons of CO2 emissions per year: The fifth phase will power around 270k homes, stopping 1.2 mn tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere. The 2.3 GW of solar power commissioned from the 5 GW solar park so far represents 15.7% of Dubai’s existing energy production capacity, according to the statement. Once the 5 GW are completed, the project will slash 6.5 mn tons of carbon emissions annually.

Background: A consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power, in partnership with the Gulf Investment Corporation, was selected to develop the fifth phase of the project with a cost of USD 562 mn under a BOO agreement. Dewa — the sole off-taker of energy generated by the fifth phase — is buying the solar energy generated at a price of USD 1.7 cents per kWh, one of the most competitive PPA agreements to date, the statement notes.