DEWA’s hydroelectric power plant in Hatta is 94.15% complete

emirates7 - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced that its pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta is 94.15% complete, with generator installations underway ahead of a trial operation scheduled for the first quarter of 2025.

As part of the project, the filling of the plant’s upper dam has been successfully completed. The dam features a 72-meter-high main wall and a 37-meter-high side wall.

The hydroelectric facility, designed for energy storage, boasts a turnaround efficiency of 78.9%. It harnesses the potential energy of water stored in the upper dam, which flows through a 1.2-kilometer underground tunnel, converting potential energy into kinetic energy. This energy drives turbines that transform mechanical energy into electricity, which can be supplied to DEWA’s grid in just 90 seconds to meet demand.

To store energy, the plant uses clean electricity from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to pump water back to the upper dam, converting electrical energy into kinetic energy.

The plant will have a production capacity of 250 megawatts (MW), a storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours, and a lifespan of up to 80 years. It is the first of its kind in the Arabian Gulf region, with a total investment of AED 1.421 billion. The project is set for full completion by the end of the second quarter of 2025.

This initiative aligns with a broader vision for Hatta's development, promoting sustainability and creating innovative job opportunities for Emiratis. It also supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050.

DEWA’s goal is to diversify Dubai’s renewable and clean energy portfolio by integrating various technologies, including solar photovoltaic panels, concentrated solar power, and the production of green hydrogen using renewable energy sources.