High-Level Austrian Delegation Visits Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) welcomed a high-level delegation from the Commercial Section of the Austrian Embassy, which included Michael Paula, Head of the Unit for Energy and Environmental Technologies at the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology, Austria, and Friedrich Kapusta, General Manager at the Federal Institute of Energy of Austria. They toured the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to learn about the latest solutions and international best practices employed for the project.
Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Jamal Hammadi, Senior Manager - Business Development, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Senior Manager - Climate Change and Sustainability, welcomed the delegation.
The Austrian delegation was shown around the plant and briefed on the operations of the solar park, which is one of the region’s largest solar parks with a capacity of 1,000MW upon final completion, accounting for 5% of Dubai’s total power output by 2030.
On 22 October 2013, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the first phase of the solar park, which uses photovoltaic technology to produce 13MW, and is linked directly to DEWA’s grid, which covers all areas in Dubai. HH Sheikh Mohammed also initiated the second phase that comprises a 100MW plant.
DEWA Officials provided insights on the state-of-the-art technology used in the construction of the AED 12 billion Solar Park’s first phase as well as its contribution to the vision of His Highness for a brighter, sustainable future for Dubai and theDubai Integrated Energy 2030, which aims to boost Dubai’s strategic efforts to promote sustainable energy, improve demand efficiency, and diversify energy sources by 2030 to provide clean energy solutions to meet future needs and reduce Dubai’s carbon footprint.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a leading sustainable project, a centre for producing solar energy, and a platform to promote renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency. The project also includes a renewable energy academy and Research & Development centre to advance the skills of future professionals.
The delegation praised DEWA’s efforts in the field of solar energy, stressing the need to strengthen collaboration with DEWA’s renewable energy strategies that significantly contribute to the development of the clean energy industry in the UAE. They added that several Austrian companies are involved in developing advanced technologies for the energy sector.
They thanked DEWA staff for their warm welcome and the tour of the solar Par, as well as the opportunity to discuss various spheres of mutual collaboration.
Emirate: Dubai
Date: Apr 3, 2014
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