EDF Energies Nouvelles will work with Masdar Group on the 800 megawatt phase 3 of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the United Arab Emirates.
Masdar Group, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures and Gransolar Group have been joined by EDF Energies Nouvelles just weeks after construction on the third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai began.
The Masdar Group–led consortium was confirmed as the winner of the 800 MW solar power tender that was floated by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) last year. The phase III tender set a record for lowest-ever solar PV tariff globally at that time. The Masdar-led consortium beat the phase II winning bid of 5.84¢/kWh with a bid of 2.99¢/kWh. Masdar Group and DEWA signed the power purchase agreement for the project in November 2016.
Phase two of the solar power park with 200 megawatts capacity has already been commissioned. Tender for 200 megawatts phase four of the solar park will be opened in June this year; this phase will be based on concentrated solar power technology.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will have an eventual capacity of 5 gigawatts. The initial planned capacity was 1 gigawatt which was subsequently increased to 3 gigawatts, and now 5 gigawatts. Bids of the first 1 gigawatt of capacity have already been awarded.