Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has announced plans to build the biggest hydroelectric power station in the GCC region.

The project, a first-of-its-kind in the Gulf, will make use of the water stored in the mountains next to Al Hattawi dam to produce 250 MW of power with a lifespan of 60-80 years, said the statement from the Dubai utility.

It was launched in the presence of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Besides the hydroelectric power station in the mountains next to the Al Hattawi dam, the project also involves the development of other infrastructure projects in the region.

The power station will make use of two reservoirs - a lower one which is currently located in Al Hattawi Dam 400 m above sea level with a capacity of 1,716 million gallons and an upper reservoir will be built in the shape of a lake and will be 700 m above sea level.

The horizontal distance between the two reservoirs will be 3 to 4 km with a 300-m difference in height, it stated.

On the new venture, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the managing director and chief executive of Dewa, said: "We are pleased to play a role in the development of Hatta. We are inspired by the vision of Sheikh Mohammed, which outlines the roadmap that guides our work, initiatives, and developmental projects to achieve the UAE Vision 2021."

The UAE government wants to ensure sustainable development while preserving the environment, and to achieve a perfect balance between economic and social development, stated Al Tayer.

"This adheres to the directives of our wise leadership, to transform the UAE into one of the best countries in the world by 2021, when we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Union," he added.

According to him, solar energy, which is the cheapest form of energy, will be used to power water turbines to pump water from the current lower reservoir to the upper reservoir that will be built.

"The speed of waterfall from the upper reservoir will be used to generate electricity and connect it to Dewa's grid. The efficiency of the power station will reach 90 per cent with response to demand for energy within 90 seconds," he explained.

"The project will create jobs, contribute to human and economic development, and enhance tourism through world-class tourist facilities in Hatta that we will develop in cooperation with one of the developers," noted Al Tayer.

Other than energy and irrigation, the project will provide other services including flood control and storing fresh drinking water, he added.

Al Tayer said Dewa will implement other projects and initiatives in Hatta including installation of photovoltaic panels on rooftops of buildings for Emiratis in that region through its Shams Dubai initiative, setting up of smart meters in the buildings and houses using the latest international systems through its Smart Grid and Meters initiative, and establishing the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations through the Green Charger initiative.

"Currently, there is a 132 kV substation, and a 900 mm main water pipe in the region that meets the existing and future needs of the people in Hatta," he added.-TradeArabia News Service