Dubai, UAE, 28 November 2016: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has authorized a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Abu Dubai Future Power Company (Masdar), for the 800MW third stage of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

The agreement was authorized by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, and HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar, with HE Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar also present.

The signing ceremony was attended by DEWA team consisting of Waleed Salman, Exec Vice President of Strategy and Business Growth, Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation, Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power, Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Advertising and marketing and Corporate Communications and Jamal Shaheen Al Hammadi, Vice President of Special Projects.

Previously this year, DEWA announced the Masdar-led consortium as chosen prospective buyer for the 3rd stage of the solar park. The consortium bid the most affordable price of electricity.

"We delight in to sign the Power Purchase Agreement with Abu Dubai Future Energy Company to create 800MW based on the Independent Power Manufacturer design for the third stage of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the biggest single-site solar park in the world, with a prepared capability of 5,000 MW by 2030. The contract with Masdar sustains the regulations of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to support the development of the appealing clean power industry, and our efforts to accomplish the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, introduced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to branch out the power mix so Clean energy will certainly generate 7% of Dubai's complete power output by 2020, 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050. The regulations of His Highness are the roadmap that guides our enthusiastic initiatives and development tasks. The arrangement likewise supports the Dubai Plan 2021 to promote sustainability and happiness in Dubai, and attain the aspirations of its people and residents, and DEWA's vision to come to be a lasting innovative world-class energy," said Al Tayer.

"Masdar is happy to partner with DEWA on this important turning point in the development of the UAE's solar energy capacity. This agreement demonstrates the competition of solar as a commercially-viable clean power source for electrical energy generation. It is through ambitious jobs of this range that Masdar is able to own the clean technology industry onward," said HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.

"Today's signing continues the strong momentum created first of the project many thanks to DEWA's effective tender process. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a significant undertaking which will become an international reference point for the renewable energy industry," said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar.

"Through the Solar Park, DEWA is making a significant payment to the UAE's vision for an environment-friendly economy. The cooperation in between all events to reach this milestone has been outstanding, and we anticipate bringing Masdar's competence and experience from the previous One Decade to birth, in order to effectively provide this project for the UAE," included Al Ramahi.

In November 2015, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum released the second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. In June 2016, His Highness witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Masdar-led consortium to implement the 3rd stage of the solar park based on the IPP version. The MoU finalizing was participated in by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Financing, and HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Matters. The 800MW third stage will certainly be operational in 2020 to accompany the World Expo 2020 in Dubai. DEWA additionally introduced the largest Concentrated Solar energy (CSP) project in the world, based upon the IPP model, with a prepared capability of 1,000 MW by 2030.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park at Seih Al Dahal in early 2012. The very first stage was effectively finished the next year, and is producing 13MW.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park includes a Creative thinking & Innovation Centre that will certainly be equipped with the most recent renewable and clean technologies to sharpen national capabilities, boost the competitiveness of business, establish brand-new renewable resource modern technologies, support the total regional improvement of the industry, and increase social understanding about eco-friendly and lasting power. The Research and Development Centre will perform researches for industrial and social requirements, clinical research, link researchers, academics and developers, and design techniques for innovative and effective ideas. It has 2 screening facilities, one for photovoltaic or pv solar screening and the other for Concentrated solar power (CSP). The centre is currently evaluating 30 components of solar panels from global expert producers to check the properties, evaluate the outcomes, and use them in research and development. It works together with worldwide organisations on soiling and dust mitigation on solar devices. The examinations are currently being executed to establish a baseline for the development of specs, tests and standards for photovoltaic equipment.