The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has significantly reduced the cost of solar power by 85% and doubled efficiency over the last decade, according to Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the MD and CEO of the DFM-listed utility. Al Tayer shared these achievements during his keynote speech at the World Government Summit 2024 in Dubai.
In the last decade, the expense of solar energy in DEWA’s initiatives has dropped significantly, going from 11 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) to just 1.69 cents, accompanied by a boost in efficiency from 11% to around 24%. DEWA initiated its foray into solar power in 2013 with the launch of the first phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, boasting a 13-megawatt (MW) capacity. As of December 31, 2023, the solar park’s total installed capacity has reached 2,627MW.
Al-Tayer also emphasized DEWA’s commitment to environmentally friendly projects, such as the green hydrogen production initiative at the solar park and the pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta. Notably, the utility ceased the launch of new fossil-fuel energy projects several years ago and limited new water desalination projects to the use of clean energy through reverse osmosis technology.
In a noteworthy development, DEWA’s Hassyan Phase 1 Independent Water Producer (IWP) project, with an investment exceeding 3.3 billion UAE dirhams, is poised to become the world’s largest solar energy-powered desalination plant, boasting a capacity of 180 Million Imperial Gallons Per day (MIGD).
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 achieved an 85% reduction in solar power costs and doubled efficiency over the past decade. From pioneering projects at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to a commitment to green initiatives, DEWA is leading the way in sustainable energy practices and technological innovation.){kind=link}