April 2025 is the scheduled operational launch date.
By April 2025, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) plans to export renewable energy from its Hatta pumped-storage hydroelectric power facility. The managing director and managing director of DEWA, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, made this declaration. An important milestone in the UAE’s shift to renewable energy was reached in January 2025 when the project’s operational testing got underway.
Status of Milestones and Project Completion
Al Tayer examined the plant’s development during an inspection visit, emphasising that it is the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) first hydroelectric facility of its kind. The project, which is 96.82% finished now, is intended to use water from the Hatta Dam and a recently built upper dam in the nearby highlands to produce energy. The plant will have a 250 megawatt (MW) output capacity, 1,500 megawatt-hours of storage capacity, and an 80-year operational lifespan. This enormous project has a total investment of AED 1.421 billion.
Conformity to the Sustainability Vision of Dubai
Dubai’s sustainability goals heavily rely on the Hatta hydroelectric facility. Aiming for 100% clean energy generation by the middle of the century, it is consistent with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050.
Renewable Energy Source Diversification
The project is a component of DEWA’s larger plan to diversify energy generation through renewable sources, Al Tayer underlined. These include the creation of green hydrogen, concentrated solar power, and solar photovoltaic panels.
Important Construction Advancements and the Testing Stage
Al Tayer evaluated current construction developments during the visit, particularly the effective installation of generators. The facility is now getting ready for trial operations, which are expected to start in 2025’s first quarter. He also examined the upper dam, which has a main wall that is 72 meters high and a side dam that is 37 meters high. Now, in anticipation of the next testing phase, the reservoir has been filled.
Creative Energy Efficiency and Storage
With a turnaround efficiency of 78.9%, the hydroelectric project is intended to serve as an energy storage solution. Through a 1.2-kilometer underground tube, stored water from the higher dam is directed, transforming potential energy into kinetic energy that powers turbines and produces electricity. In order to fulfil demand, the system can supply power to DEWA’s grid in less than 90 seconds. Furthermore, water will be pumped back to the top dam using excess energy from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, allowing for closed-loop energy storage.
Enhancing Dubai’s Clean Energy Leadership
The Hatta hydroelectric project solidifies Dubai’s standing as a leader in sustainable infrastructure development and represents a significant turning point in the city-state’s clean energy developments. Dubai’s dedication to incorporating cutting-edge technologies into its energy landscape is further reinforced by this project.
