Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Currently the capacity of Dubai will be supplied from a Norwegian hydropower plant being built in the Hatta area. The initial tests of the first installed block are already completed. The construction is the first step in the Persian Gulf region and achieved 96.82% completion.
The project is called to utilize existing Hatta reservoirs, as well as a new upper reservoir, constructed in mountainous areas. It is planned that the plant will generate 250 MW and have an energy storage of 1,500 megawatt-hours. It is projected that the project will function for about 80 years, with the total investment amounting to around 1.42 billion dirhams.
Saeed Mohammed Al-Tayer, the general director of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, stated that this project is part of initiatives for diversifying sources of renewable and clean energy in Dubai. The project is inscribed in the strategy to achieve full autonomy from fossil fuels and ensure 100% of generated energy in the emirate from clean sources by 2050.
At the site, representatives conducted the installation of generators and completed the process of filling the lower reservoir in preparation for the start of control tests. It is scheduled that initial testing work will begin in the first quarter of 2025.
The plant will use water from the Hatta reservoirs and the new upper reservoir. Water will be pumped using a modern turbine, powered by clean solar energy from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
The project will ensure the efficiency of production and storage of electric energy at the level of 78.9%, with a momentary response to demand within 90 seconds. The management team of the project includes engineers and managers from the Electricity and Water Authority.
