DEWA has revealed plans for the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant (CSP) at its Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai.
The utility has released a tender for leading international CSP consultants to submit their proposals for advisory services for the 200MW first phase of the CSP plant to be operational by April 2021. The plant will gradually be expanded to 1,000MW by 2030, DEWA said in a statement.
“An important advantage of CSP is that thermal heat, which is used to produce electricity, can be stored easily, which makes it possible to produce electricity after sunset,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA.
“The plant will have several thousand heliostats located around a tower that receives the radiation reflected by the heliostats which follow the sun’s movement.
“The heat-transfer fluid is then used to power the steam turbine to generate electricity. The project will use thermal storage for 8-12 hours daily, taking into account technical and economic factors. This will contribute to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of production and meet the requirements of the electricity grid.”
DEWA launched the 13MW first phase of its solar photovoltaic plant in October 2013. Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power won the contract to develop the 200MW second phase which will be operational in April 2017. DEWA plans to award the 800MW third phase later this year.