DEWA Begins Trial Operations of Hatta Hydroelectric Plant, Advancing Dubai’s 2050 Clean Energy Goals

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has commenced trial operations and electricity export from its pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta, marking a major milestone in the Emirate’s clean energy transition.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, announced the development during a site visit to review the project’s final stages. He revealed that the station has already generated over 17,921 megawatt-hours (MWh) during operational testing. Once fully operational, the facility will have a production capacity of 250 MW, a storage capacity of 1,500 MWh, and an estimated lifespan of 80 years. With peak electricity demand in Hatta at 39 MW, surplus power will be exported to Dubai.

Al Tayer was accompanied by senior DEWA officials, including Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation (Power & Water); Project Manager Khalifa Al Bedwawi; and members of the project team.

The AED 1.42 billion project supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which aim to achieve 100% clean energy production by 2050. “The hydroelectric power plant in Hatta reflects the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to drive comprehensive and sustainable development across the Emirate,” Al Tayer said.

During the visit, Al Tayer inspected the underground power generation station, located 60 metres below ground, and witnessed tests on the facility’s water pumping and power generation systems. He also toured the upper dam, which spans 210,000 square metres with a storage capacity of around 5.3 million cubic metres of water.

The plant operates with a turnaround efficiency of 78.9%, using water stored in the upper dam and the Hatta Dam. Through a 1.2-kilometre subterranean tunnel, the potential energy of stored water is converted into kinetic energy to drive turbines, generating electricity that can be delivered to DEWA’s grid within 90 seconds. Energy storage will be powered by renewable energy from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, where solar-generated electricity will be used to pump water back to the upper dam.

DEWA noted that the project is part of its broader efforts to diversify Dubai’s energy mix through renewable and clean energy technologies, including solar PV, concentrated solar power, and advanced battery storage.