A Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) delegation conducted a detailed solar tour of California on October 26, 2024, led by Managing Director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer. The delegation visited Southern Power's Garland Solar Facility and Clearway Energy Group's Daggett Solar Site, where they examined the integration of photovoltaic solar plants with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The visit was designed to identify proven strategies that DEWA can apply to Dubai's growing renewable energy programs.
Studying Solar and Battery Storage Integration
The California tour gave DEWA's leadership direct exposure to large-scale BESS deployments alongside photovoltaic solar infrastructure — a technology combination central to Dubai's future energy planning. By observing operational facilities in the United States, the delegation gathered practical insights into how solar generation and storage can work together to deliver reliable, round-the-clock clean power.
This type of integration is critical for DEWA's long-term ambitions. Rather than relying on solar as an intermittent source, pairing photovoltaic panels with battery storage allows utilities to dispatch clean energy on demand — a key requirement for a city of Dubai's scale and growth trajectory.
Advancing Dubai's Clean Energy Strategy 2050
The visit directly supports two of Dubai's flagship sustainability frameworks: the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. Both programs target zero-carbon electricity generation by the middle of the century, representing a fundamental transformation of how the emirate powers itself.
Al Tayer underscored DEWA's role in driving that transformation. "This visit helps promote DEWA's mission to develop sustainable technologies in the electric sector and minimize the carbon emissions linked to power generation," he stated, reaffirming the authority's commitment to Dubai's energy diversification plans.
He added that DEWA will continue implementing value-added solutions to improve energy efficiency and support sustainable electricity supply across Dubai.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
DEWA's solar and battery storage ambitions are anchored by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is on track to become the world's largest integrated solar facility. The park is projected to generate more than 5,000 MW by 2030, with Phase 7 set to include a BESS capacity of 1,000 MW — capable of six hours of storage, or 6,000 megawatt-hours in total.
The California visit feeds directly into planning for projects of this scale. By combining solar with large-scale battery storage, DEWA aims to move beyond occasional, small-scale clean energy interventions toward reliable, always-available power from solar resources — sustaining Dubai's clean energy commitments for decades.
Dubai as a Model for Sustainable Power
The partnership between DEWA and global power industry players — including US-based companies like Southern Power and Clearway Energy Group — highlights Dubai's ambition to become a world-class model for sustainable energy development. The knowledge gained from California's operational solar-plus-storage sites is expected to inform DEWA's approach as it scales up both generation capacity and grid resilience in line with the emirate's 2050 targets.
