Canadian Solar, one of the world’s leading solar power companies, announced this week that it will be providing 268 megawatts worth of solar modules to the 800-megawatt Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, implemented by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is currently one of the crown jewels in the global renewable energy industry. The park is made up of several ‘phases’ — a small 13-megawatt (MW) project which was commissioned back in October of 2013, and a recently commissioned 200 MW phase which was completed just a couple of months ago. The third phase was awarded in a record-low tender bid to a Masdar-led consortium back in June of 2016, which also includes Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and Gransolar Group (and recently added EDF Energies Nouvelles). A fourth, 1 GW phase of the project was also recently announced by DEWA.
Announced on Tuesday, Canadian Solar will provide 268 MW of its double-glass Dymond solar modules to the 800 MW third phase, being developed by an EPC JV (engineering, procurement, and construction joint-venture) between Acciona, Gransolar, and Ghella. Completion of the third phase is expected to be sometime in 2020.
Upon completion, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will likely reach around 5 GW, and be one of the world’s largest single-location solar parks when it is completed, and will stand as a key component of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, which aims to secure a sustainable supply of electricity through a diversification of resources for Dubai. It will also go a long way to helping Dubai reach its solar target of 15% of the country’s electricity supply by 2030.
“We are proud to be partnering with Masdar, DEWA, EDF, and the EPC JV on this outstanding project,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar. “I am confident that Canadian Solar’s Dymond modules will perform well in the project’s hot desert climate. As Dubai diversifies its energy portfolio, our partnership will serve as an excellent example for future utility-scale solar projects in the region, and we are eager to contribute further to the energy market growth in the Middle East.”
Source: cleantechnica.com
