Cleanergy signs MoU to build a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Dubai

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (‘MoU’) with the Swedish energy technology company Cleanergy and infrastructure, building and energy services company Al-Futtaim Carillion, for the installment of the first Stirling Engine Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology power plant in Dubai, the GCC and wider MENA region.

The partnership combines Cleanergy’s CSP technology with Al-Futtaim Carillion’s on-the-ground expertise in delivering complex engineering projects. The installation consists of 10 units with a total capacity of 110 kW as well as a park management supervision system to oversee the project. The permit approval process to install the plant has commenced and the installation is expected to be completed by early 2014.

The partnership for this demonstration and verification park was formed to better understand how the CSP technology works in the unique climate conditions of Dubai and to develop a pilot project intended to measure and monitor the performance CSP Technology systems in Dubai. This project will then be used as a learning tool for a more large-scale deployment of solar CSP installations in Dubai to help strengthen the local solar industry.

Today’s announcement also forms another important part of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to achieve energy diversification by generating 71% from gas, 12% from nuclear energy, 12% from clean coal, and 5% from solar energy. The strategy also aims to reduce demand for energy by 30% in the Emirate of Dubai by 2030.

“This MOU aims to support the long-term national initiative ‘Green Economy For Sustainable development’ launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve sustainable development in the Emirate of Dubai and promote its position as a global hub for finance, business, tourism and green economy,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA .

“Today’s news is another important step forward in meeting our targets in the solar energy segment and ensuring environmental sustainability by encouraging the use of renewable energy. We find Cleanergy’s CSP technology particularly promising and by establishing a test plant we can measure and monitor the performance of the technology and better understand how the technology works in the unique climate of Dubai. Our long-term plan is to deploy more large-scale solar installations in Dubai and the test plant will function as an important learning tool for this.” said His Excellency. .

“We spare no effort to support this vital sector, and work hard to enhance reliability of renewable energy through some promising future projects, like Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, whose first project was inaugurated in October 2013, with targeted production capacity of 1000 Megawatt by 2030,” added His Excellency.

“It is a great honour to be working with DEWA and Al-Futtaim Carillion on the first test plant in the region with our unique CSP technology. This exciting partnership is testament to the increased interest that we are seeing for this technology across the world. It is also an important milestone for Cleanergy as it gives us a high profile presence in this important and technologically advanced region and energy market,.” Said Anders Koritz, CEO of Cleanergy.

“Dubai is really leading the way in exploring alternative ways of generating sustainable sources of energy for the future. As Dubai seeks to generate 5 per cent of its electricity from the sun by 2030, this partnership is an important first step in achieving this target”.