The EDF Group, via its subsidiary EDF Energies Nouvelles, a major player in the production of renewable electricity, has joined forces with the consortium led by Masdar to develop the third phase of the 800 megawatt (MW) Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park – exceeding 1 gigawatt-peak (GWp) – in Dubai.
The agreement formalizing the company's entry into the consortium was signed today by Jean-Bernard Lévy, CEO of the EDF Group, and by Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company.
His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Antoine Cahuzac, Group Executive Director in charge of Renewable Energy and Managing Director of EDF Energies Nouvelles, also attended the signing at DEWA head office .
The 800 MW (1GWp) photovoltaic plant, which covers 16 km², will be delivered in three stages. The 200 MW “Phase A” is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by next year in April. Completion of the 300 MW “Phase B” is expected for April 2019, while the final tranche of 300 MW, “Phase C”, is scheduled for April 2020.
The project was awarded last year at a price of 2.99 US cents per kilowatt-hour, which was a record rate for solar power generation at the time.
Representing a total investment of US$14 billion (AED50 billion), the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will have a total installed capacity of 5,000 MW, creating more than 1,000 jobs during its development and saving up to 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, once fully operational in 2030.
“ We are happy to see more international companies such as EDF joining the Masdar-led consortium for the 800 megawatt (MW) third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park, which will be constructed based on the IPP model to achieve sustainable development. The Solar Park has attracted the interest of global business and energy companies, which reflects the trust and interest from international investors in large projects adopted by Dubai Government, encouraged by the favorable existing regulatory and legislative frameworks in Dubai that enable public-private partnerships. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has inaugurated the 200 megawatt (MW) second phase of the Solar Park which is now operational. The project reflects a new era in the excellence and leadership of the UAE, as it increases the share of clean and renewable energy. We are working to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 7% of Dubai's total power output from clean energy sources by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050,“said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
“ With construction of phase three now well under way, we are proud to bring EDF Group into the consortium realizing what will be the largest solar power plant in the world on completion, and to benefit from EDF Energies Nouvelles' extensive international experience in renewable energy deployment , particularly in emerging markets,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company.
The subsidiary of the EDF Group, EDF Energies Nouvelles, is a leader in the production of renewable electricity, with a gross installed capacity of more than 9.5 gigawatts (GW), particularly in wind and photovoltaic energy. Today, it is present in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, India and Asia.
Jean-Bernard Lévy, CEO of the EDF Group, declared “ We are very proud to support the energy transition in the Middle East, thanks to large-scale projects in renewable energies, such as that of DEWA III. They illustrate our know-how as a leader in low-carbon growth and support the Group's development in high-growth countries, as part of our Cap 2030 strategy.. »
Antoine Cahuzac, Group Executive Director in charge of Renewable Energy and Managing Director of EDF Energies Nouvelles: “ The Middle East is a strategic region for the EDF Group, which has strong ambitions in terms of renewable energies. The EDF Group, through the EDF Energies Nouvelles teams, is pleased to participate in one of the largest solar energy initiatives in the world, launched by DEWA. This 1GWp solar-photovoltaic project carried out with Masdar, a major player in renewable energies, seals a major long-term partnership ".
Press release originally issued by the EDF Group.
About EDF Energies Nouvelles
EDF Energies Nouvelles is an international leader in renewable electricity with an installed capacity of more than 9 GW gross worldwide. Its development is mainly focused on wind power and photovoltaic solar power. Mainly present in Europe and North America, EDF EN continues its development by taking a position in new promising markets and in new countries such as South Africa, Brazil, Chile, China and India. The Company, which is strongly positioned in the offshore wind sector, is also present in other renewable energy sectors: marine energies, biogas and biomass as well as in distributed energies. EDF EN ensures the development and construction of renewable energy projects as well as their operation and maintenance, for its own account and on behalf of third parties. EDF Energies Nouvelles is the subsidiary of the EDF group dedicated to the development of renewable energies.
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