Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday inaugurated the second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park at Seih Al Dahal in Dubai, UAE.

The solar park is being developed by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) in co-ordination with a consortium led by Saudi-based Acwa Power, the main developer of the project, and TSK from Spain.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is one of the major projects that Dewa is implementing to achieve this promising strategy of utilising renewable energy.

It reflects a new era in the excellence and leadership of the UAE, as it increases the share of clean and renewable energy. The inauguration coincided with the International Day of Happiness on March 20, said Dewa in its statement.

It was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of Dubai Executive Council and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and chief executive of the Emirates Group, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, and a number of ministers and senior officials from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The largest single-site solar park in the world, based on the IPP (independent power producer) model, will be developed at an investment of Dh50 billion ($13.6 billion), said a top official.

"The project aims to achieve a planned capacity of 1,000 MW by 2020 and 5,000 MW by 2030," remarked Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the chief executive and managing director of Dewa.

"It will eventually save over 6.5 million tons of carbon emissions every year, supporting Dubai’s objectives to promote sustainable development and a green economy," he added.

On completion of the second phase, the solar plant will generate 200 MW of electricity, enough to power 50,000 households, said Al Tayer.

This phase can also reduce 214,000 tons of carbon emissions annually, he added.-TradeArabia News Service