Mohammed bin Rashid inaugurates Phase One of Mohamed bin Rashid Solar Power Park

Dubai: Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, inaugurated Phase One of the Dh 12 billion Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park at Seih Al Dahal on the Al Ain-Dubai Road on Tuesday. Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai. The 1,000 MW development of Solar Power Park is implemented by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (SCE) and managed and operated by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). It was executed by First Solar, a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar systems. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO and Managing Director of DEWA, said the promising project, the first of its kind in the region, would constitute "a qualitative and vital addition to the mega-projects in sustainability and renewable and alternative energy". Al Tayer, also Vice Chairman of SCE, said Sheikh Mohammed had launched the project in January 2012 as one of the largest renewable energy developments in the region. Al Tayer said the first utility-scale production capacity park of its kind in the region is one of the most, important ambitious development aimed at delivering the UAE Vision 2021, enhancing Dubai's leading position as a world financial, trade and tourist centre and promoting Sheikh Mohammed's initiative "green economy for sustainable development.'' He explained that the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 has included a plan for diversifying the energy sources in Dubai so that solar energy contributes 1% to the overall energy production for Dubai by 2020 and this will increase to 5% by 2030. The plant, he added, was built according to the highest international standards in technology, health, safety and environment. ''Powered by 152,880 First Solar FS Series 3 Black PV modules, the plant, the largest of its kind in the Middle East, will generate 24 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year. The power generated by the plant will displace 15,000 metric tons of CO2 annually,' he said. The project had a workforce of 1,280 personnel at its peak and required more than 1.4 million man-hours to complete, all of which were accident-free. Jim Hughes, CEO of First Solar, developer of the plant, said the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park sets new standards for designing and building solar power plants in the UAE and the region at large. Sheikh Mohammed then signed a PV panel, declaring the launch of Phase Two of the Park. He said ''sustainable development needs projects that cover all sectors on top of them is energy, which he described as a key artery that provides these projects with life and sustainability and delivers aspired objectives, mainly those serving our people and future generations.'' He added that ''sustainable development projects need minds and hands of our sons and daughters at all sites.'' – Emirates New Agency, WAM