Dubai electricity and water utility Dewa has amended a power purchase agreement with Saudi private energy developer Acwa Power that will expand the scope of the fourth phase of its MBR solar park, 50km south of Dubai city, from 700MW to 950MW. Dewa called for concentrated solar power (CSP) capacity for the original phase four project, for which Acwa submitted a world record low bid of electricity at a cost of US¢7.30/kWh.
The additional 250MW capacity will be solar photovoltaic (PV), offering an electricity price of US¢2.40/kWh – just slightly higher than the $2.34/kWh that Acwa bid to win the 300MW Sakaka PV project in the northern Al-Jawf region of Saudi Arabia (MEES, 9 February). While Acwa holds the world records for both PV and CSP projects, Acwa chairman Muhammad Abunayyan says the company is “technology neutral and fuel agnostic, serving our customers in accordance with their fuel choice” (MEES, 21 September). (CONTINUED - 151 WORDS)