Dubai has launched an AED2.5bn waste-to-energy project to treat 1.82 million tonnes of solid waste annually, with a total capacity to generate 185MW of electricity, said director general of Dubai Municipality.
This project at Warsan area will be the worlds largest waste-to-energy plant operating at one site, said Hussain Nasser Lootah. The construction will begin within a few months and the plant will be functional before Expo 2020, said Lootah.
The plant is capable of providing power to 120,000 homes. That is roughly 2% of the annual electricity consumption in Dubai.
This will give a lot of support to maintain and achieve sustainability in Dubai, said Lootah. We are undertaking this project for the development of the city with the cooperation of our partner, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
Around 5,000 tonnes of waste will be treated at the plant every day.
Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa, said the authority will be the offtaker of the project. Speaking to Gulf News, he said the plant will be connected to Dewas grid through HV 132kV cables.
This will be a new source of [power] supply for Dubai. This will improve security of supply, said Al Tayer.
Dubai Municipality has partnered with Swiss company Hitachi Zosen Inova and Belgian construction company Besix Group to build and operate the plant. Lootah said the landmark project will ultimately support Dubais vision of becoming the worlds most sustainable city.
The project will help achieve Dubai Municipalitys strategic goals and pillars of environmental protection, promote the sustainability of natural resources, integrated waste management and divert 100% of waste from landfills by 2030.