Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, inaugurated the 400/132 kilovolt (kV) substation at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

The AED275 million substation is one of the first projects of the solar park and has a conversion capacity of 1,515 megavolt amperes, MVA. It will transmit and transform electricity produced from solar energy and connect it to DEWA’s grid. The substation is the first of its kind in the UAE to integrate clean energy with traditional energy grid.

The inauguration was attended by senior officials from the Swiss firm ABB, the main contractors of the project, and senior officials from DEWA. Frank Duggan, President of Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) at ABB, also attended the event.

Al Tayer, accompanied by ABB officials, also toured the project site that has four sections. The first includes a 400kV substation with 11 gas-insulated switchgears, GIS,. The second section converts from 400 kV to 132kV with a conversion capacity of 1,515 MVA. It includes three 400/132 kV interconnecting transformers. The third section has 21 GIS while the fourth section houses the control and safety facilities. ABB co-operated with a number of companies, including Energo and Comodor, to complete the project.

"I am pleased to welcome you all to the inauguration of the 400/132 kV substation at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which was constructed in adherence to the vision of the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which is a roadmap we follow in all our work, initiatives, and development projects. This project supports the Dubai Plan 2021 to transform Dubai into the preferred place to live, work and visit. The 400/132kV substation, with an investment of AED275 million and a conversion capacity of 1,515 megavolt amperes (MVA), is one of the first projects of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, and will connect and transmit the energy produced from solar power generation to DEWA’s grid. It is the first substation of its kind in the UAE, which integrates clean energy with the traditional energy network," Al Tayer said.

He said that DEWA is now working on increasing the transmission capacity of the substation and its efficiency through three 400kV GIS bays, one 400/132kV Inter-connected transformer ,ICT, with a capacity of 505 MVA, nine 132kV GIS bays and four 132kV shunt reactors.

"ABB is pleased to support Dubai’s clean energy vision by being a technology partner to DEWA at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. As a leader in the energy revolution, ABB is perfectly positioned to support growth of renewables in the UAE energy mix and strengthen its power infrastructure," Duggan of ABB said.