Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) began operation of the first phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park on 22 October, the largest operating photovoltaic (PV) solar plant in the Middle East and North Africa.

“[The solar park] is a key factor in achieving the green economy for sustainable development initiative… with the aim of building a green economy in the UAE and achieving sustainable development,” said Mohammed al-Tayer, chief executive officer (CEO) of Dewa, at the opening ceremony of the plant.

The first phase will contribute 13MW to the emirate’s electricity grid and will generate 24 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity a year. The project is powered by 152,880 photocell PV modules, connected to 13 step-up transformers.US-based First Solar was awarded the estimated AED124m ($33.8m) contract to build the first phase of the park in October 2012.

At the launch of the first phase, Dewa also announced that the 100MW second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park was to be procured in partnership with the private sector, through an independent power project (IPP) model.

“We are hoping to receive bids for the second phase in March or April 2014,” said Waleed Salman, executive vice-president for strategy and business development at Dewa, speaking to MEED on the sidelines of the opening ceremony. “It is ambitious, but we feel we can do it.”

MEED recently reported that Dewa was expected to shortly begin asking consultants to pitch for a mandate as financial adviser for the 100MW phase.

When completed, the Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park is planned to have a total capacity of 1,000MW. The park is scheduled to contribute 5 per cent of Dubai’s power generation resources by 2030, as part of the emirate’s Integrated Energy Strategy. The project is under the umbrella of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and operated by Dewa. The solar park is expected to receive AED12bn of investment by 2030.