Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the 800-MW third phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai.

The facility, to be developed on the independent power producer (IPP) model, is the largest single-site solar project in the world. It will produce 1,000 MW by 2020 and 5,000 MW by 2030, at a total investment of Dh50 billion ($13.6 billion),  said Dewa.

On the project’s progress, Dewa said the 13-MW first phase became operational in 2013. The work is progressing well on the 200-MW second phase of the solar park which will be operational by 2017, and the 800-MW third phase by 2020.

Dewa received 21 request for quotations (RFQs) responses from international energy companies and consortia in November. The RFP was released to qualified bidders last month with the response to the RFP expected to be received towards the end of the second quarter of this year.

The project supports Dubai Government’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 which is aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Under this plan, initially 25 per cent of Dubai’s energy will come from clean sources by 2030 which will be increased to 100 per cent by 2030.

“We are determined to continue building and developing a greener economy, to achieve the UAE Vision 2021 to instil a sustainable environment in terms of air quality, conserving water resources, more reliance on clean energy, and implementing green development in Dubai,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa.

“We support the long-term ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development’ initiative to build a green economy in the UAE. We also support Dubai Plan 2021 to establish the emirate as a smart and sustainable city,” he added.