DEWA tenders 2-GW Phase VII with 1.4-GW/8.4-GWh storage

• Dubai utility DEWA invited bids for the 2-GW seventh phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, including 1.4-GW/8.4-GWh of storage.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched the tender for Phase VII of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, seeking bids for 2 GW of new solar capacity supported by a colossal 1.4 GW/8.4 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The package signals the emirate’s next step: shifting from adding megawatts to shaping them—turning plentiful midday generation into dependable evening and contingency supply.

The design brief points to multi-hour flexibility. An 8.4 GWh system implies roughly six hours of duration at 1.4 GW, enough to cover the entire dusk peak and provide reserves through the night. Co-location at the solar park will allow shared interconnection, lower conversion losses (particularly with DC-coupled blocks), and unified controls capable of synthetic inertia, fast frequency response, and voltage support via grid-forming inverters.

For bidders, bankable engineering is table stakes: bifacial modules on single-axis trackers, DC/AC ratios tuned for annual yield, and plant-level controllers aligned with UAE grid codes for reactive power, ramp-rate limits, and ride-through. On the storage side, containerized lithium-ion systems with sectionalized fire safety, off-gas detection, and robust thermal management are likely, though DEWA’s scale could attract proposals that include long-duration variants to complement lithium’s strengths.

Commercially, Dubai’s independent power producer (IPP) framework favors sharp pricing and disciplined execution. Winning bids will blend low levelized energy cost with system value—firming capability, rapid contingency response, and high availability proven through acceptance testing. Early reservation of transformers, switchgear, and protection systems will be critical to schedule certainty, as will sequencing substation works to enable staged energization.

Environmental and community considerations remain integral: dust and noise management during construction, glare assessments near roadways and flight paths, drainage sized for cloudbursts, and end-of-life plans that prioritize recycling pathways for modules and batteries.

Strategically, Phase VII is about grid shape, not just scale. By embedding six hours of storage at gigawatt level, DEWA aims to dampen price volatility, reduce gas burn, and make better use of every installed megawatt—locking in reliability as electrification and cooling demand continue to rise.