emirates7 - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority's (DEWA) Innovation Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park received several high-level delegations headed by ministers and officials from several countries, over the past few weeks.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, emphasised DEWA’s commitment to exchange expertise with ministries and organisations worldwide in renewable and clean energy, environmental sustainability, innovation, smart cities, water, and other areas of common interest.

"Through the centre, DEWA aims to support innovation in clean and renewable energy, develop skills and build the capacities of the next generation of innovators in clean energy technologies with a focus on developing and refining the talents of young Emiratis. It aims to provide a unique learning environment by hosting events, conferences, seminars and workshops, building partnerships with local and international universities and start-ups to cooperate in innovation and exchange of knowledge and experiences, and raising awareness about clean energy and sustainability. The centre’s innovations in solar energy support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to provide 75 percent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050," Al Tayer said.

Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, explained that the centre supports renewable and clean energy projects such as the Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. It has a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030. It will reduce over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually when completed.

The Innovation Centre provides visitors with a unique experience to explore the latest innovations in clean energy technologies. The exhibition area on the first floor focuses on DEWA’s journey, vital historical inventions and innovations in electricity, and the latest developments in renewable and sustainable energy. The area includes over 30 interactive exhibits designed to introduce visitors to developments in renewable energy.

The site also houses the museum, water desalination plants, and visual space that explains the properties of light and solar radiation. The centre also features an exhibition on critical components of photovoltaic solar cells and related technologies, including Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and the Solar Power Tower. It also showcases the renewable energy journey, Smart DEWA, solar cell applications in spacecraft and satellites, and sustainable buildings.