Dubai on Thursday (Jun 2) announced plans to build a 1,000-megawatt solar
power plant by 2030, the year it aims to turn to renewable energies for 25
percent of electricity needs.
The first stage of the concentrated solar power (CSP) plant aims to produce
200 MW in April 2021, the Dubai Water and Electricity Authority said.
"This project is going to be the biggest CSP plant worldwide," said DEWA
chief Saeed al-Tayer.
The power authority is looking for private companies to build and operate
the plant and sell electricity to the public firm in charge of distribution.
Dubai opened in October 2013 a 13-MW plant while another is expected to be
operational in April 2017 with a capacity of 200 MWs.
Unlike neighbouring oil-rich Abu Dhabi, Dubai has a dwindling reserve of
crude and has diversified its economy toward trade, transport and tourism.
