Shuaa Energy 1, the primary investor and developer for the second phase of the Mohammad bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai, said it has crossed the 50 per cent threshold for construction of the project.

Once complete, the second phase will supply Dubai with an additional 200 MW of solar power, with 900 employees currently working across a surface area of 4.4 sq km  to help deliver the project in a record 12-month timeframe, said a statement from Acwa Power.

Saudi-based Acwa is a developer, investor, co-owner and operator of a portfolio of power generation and desalinated water production plants currently with presence in 11 countries including in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), Southern Africa and South East Asia regions.

The project will see the installation of over 2.3 million solar panels that has enough capacity to power 30,000 homes in the emirate.

It will also become the city’s first project to be delivered under the Independent Power Project (IPP) model, forming a part of what will be the world’s largest solar complex. The entire park is expected to deliver over 5000 MW of solar power once complete said Acwa.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park was announced in January 2012, in line with the vision of vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote renewable energy sources in the country.

It also forms a part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to make the city a global centre of clean energy and green economy.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the managing director and chief executive of Dewa, said the second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park represents a new era for Dubai's economy and one that is dependent on sustainability and renewable energy.

"Our goal is to help this city achieve its vision of having the smallest carbon footprint in the world by 2050 – in line with HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Clean Energy Strategy, which requires that we lead the way in providing alternatives to traditional energy sources, contributing to the growth in the country’s renewable energy sector," he added.

Shuaa Energy chief executive Abdul Hamid Al Muhaidib said: "Work on the project is on track to be completed by the initial timelines, with over one million solar panels installed to date. Once compete, we expect that this phase will reduce carbon emissions in the emirate by 470,000 metric tonnes/year."

"I am also delighted to announce that after 670,000 man hours and 50 per cent of the construction schedule, there have been no accidents to report," he added.

The company, he said, has already received a number of awards for its work on the project, including the IJ Global and Power-Gen Asia awards for ‘Best Solar Deal’, as well as the Bonds, an award for ‘Best Project Finance’ at the Bonds, Loans and Sukuk conference.

Acwa Power is owned by eight Saudi conglomerates, Sanabil Direct Investment Company (owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia), the Saudi Public Pensions Agency and the International Finance Corporation (a member of the World Bank Group).

Its portfolio, with an investment value in excess of $32 billion, can generate 23+ GW of power and produce 2.5 million cu m /day of desalinated water to be delivered on a bulk basis to state utilities and industrial majors on long term off-take contracts.-TradeArabia News Service