The Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has invited companies to submit bids for the advisory services contract for the 100MW independent power project (IPP) second phase of the emirate’s Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park.

Firms have until 4 December to submit bids for the advisory mandate. Dewa released the tender on 23 October, the day after the 13MW first phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Solar Park began operation on 22 October. The mandate is expected to attract significant interest, in contrast to a role advising Dewa on its coal IPP plans.

The 13MW first phase is the largest operating photovoltaic (PV) solar plant in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, 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.

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.