25 social media influencers visit Al Maktoum Solar Park

The 3rd Emirates Energy Award’s organising committee has arranged a visit for 25 young social media influencers, particularly trending Instagram users with around 200,000 followers, to the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, to show them the best innovations and practices in energy efficiency. EEA 2017 is held under the patronage of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, under the theme, ‘Innovative Solutions for Clean Energy’.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world. The total capacity of the solar park will reach 5,000MW by 2030, with total investments of AED50 billion. By the time the solar park is completed, it should help reduce over 6.5 million tons per year of carbon emissions.

During the visit, social media influencers were shown operations at the solar park. The group took photos of the site using the hashtag- #EEAinstameet and posted them on their Instagram accounts. The group visited other projects inside the park, including the 13MW photovoltaic first phase which commenced operations on 22nd October 2013. The 200MW photovoltaic second phase of the solar park is being commissioned, and the 800MW photovoltaic 3rd phase is under construction. The 200MW Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant will be fully operational in April 2021. CSP will eventually generate 1,000MW by 2030.

"The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to make Dubai a global centre of clean energy, green economy and sustainable development. It is also part of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to increase the share of clean energy in Dubai, with a total power output to 7 percent by 2020, 25 percent by 2030, and 75 percent by 2050," said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy and President of the EEA.

"The strategic vision of our leaders is to establish UAE’s position as a global platform to encourage innovation and help innovators. The EEA is open to all creative ideas, best practices and innovations. As part of the National Innovation Strategy and the Dubai Innovation Strategy, we intend to boost research efforts in renewable energy to create plans and technologies that will help the UAE to achieve its sustainable development and green economy goals to guarantee a happier and sustainable future, for generations to come,