DEWA invites global developers for Phase 7 of MBR Solar Park expansion

Photo: Dubai Government Media Office 

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has invited international developers to express their interest in building the seventh phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This phase will have a power generation capacity of 1,600 megawatts (MW) and can be expanded up to 2,000 MW. It will also include a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 1,000MW for six hours, meaning it can store and supply up to 6,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity. This makes it one of the largest solar-plus-storage projects in the world.

The project will be developed under the independent power producer (IPP) model, where private companies or groups can invest and operate the power plant. DEWA has given interested developers until March 21, 2025, to submit their expressions of interest.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel  

A Major Step Towards Dubai’s Clean Energy Goals

Once completed, the seventh phase is expected to generate around 4.5 terawatt-hours of electricity every year. This will significantly reduce the need for fossil fuels, preventing the burning of over 36 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

With this expansion, the total planned capacity of the solar park will rise from 5,000MW to 7,260MW. As a result, the share of clean energy in Dubai’s total energy mix will increase from 27% to 34% by 2030. This will help cut carbon dioxide emissions from 6.5 million tonnes to around 8 million tonnes annually, supporting Dubai’s vision of becoming a leader in sustainable and renewable energy.

Project Timeline and Current Capacity

The seventh phase of the solar park will be developed in stages and is expected to start operating between 2027 and 2029. Currently, the solar park produces 3,460MW of power, and an additional 1,200MW is under construction.

With this expansion, Dubai is taking another big step toward a greener future by increasing the use of solar energy and reducing dependence on traditional power sources.