DEWA Strengthens Global Clean Energy Ties Through China Roadshow
In a strategic move to bolster international cooperation in clean energy and reinforce Dubai’s role as a global sustainability leader, a high-level delegation from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), led by His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO, undertook a successful roadshow across the People’s Republic of China. This visit, conducted as part of DEWA’s broader vision and long-term energy strategies, aimed to attract leading global players in solar power and energy storage while showcasing the progress and potential of Dubai’s renewable energy initiatives.
The roadshow underlined Dubai’s commitment to realizing the ambitious targets set by the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. These initiatives aim to position Dubai as a global hub for sustainability, energy transition, and green economic development. Al Tayer emphasized that DEWA’s international engagements are not only about technological exchange but also about building long-term partnerships that will help achieve Dubai’s strategic energy goals.
Strengthening Global Partnerships for Renewable Energy Innovation
Accompanying Al Tayer on this mission were Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, and Ghanim Alqassim, Senior Manager of Solar Energy. The delegation visited several prominent Chinese companies known for their expertise in solar power generation and advanced energy storage technologies. These visits were part of DEWA’s continuous effort to explore cutting-edge innovations that can be applied in Dubai’s renewable energy projects, particularly the landmark Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
Throughout the roadshow, the delegation engaged in a series of high-level meetings and field visits, focusing on technical exchanges, research collaboration, and investment opportunities. This initiative followed a successful DEWA-hosted solar and storage forum in Dubai in April 2025, which brought together nearly 100 representatives from prominent global energy firms.
Engagements with Global Leaders in Energy Technology
During their visit, the DEWA delegation held in-depth discussions with senior executives from some of the world’s most influential energy technology companies, including:
- Sungrow, a global leader in inverter and energy storage solutions.
- China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), known for industrial and transportation solutions with emerging interest in battery systems.
- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), a world-renowned producer of lithium-ion batteries and energy storage systems.
- Tesla, the American multinational pioneering energy storage and electric mobility.
- State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), one of the five largest state-owned electricity generation companies in China.
- Huawei, a technology conglomerate with significant contributions in smart PV and digital energy solutions.
These engagements were focused on learning from global best practices in solar and energy storage development, with a particular focus on large-scale deployment strategies, battery longevity, system integration, and operational efficiencies. Al Tayer underscored that partnerships with such international leaders are critical to supporting the continued expansion and success of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, particularly as it moves into its seventh development phase.
Showcasing the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
The highlight of the roadshow was a dedicated clean energy forum hosted by DEWA in Shanghai, attended by senior representatives from top-tier Chinese solar and storage firms. The forum served as a strategic platform for DEWA to present the remarkable progress achieved at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is already the world’s largest single-site solar energy project.
A central component of the presentation was an overview of the upcoming seventh phase of the solar park. Designed under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, this phase is set to be one of the most technologically advanced and environmentally impactful stages of the project to date.
Seventh Phase: Setting a New Benchmark in Solar-Plus-Storage
According to the roadmap shared during the Shanghai forum, the seventh phase of the solar park will add an additional 1,600 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic solar capacity, with the option to scale up to 2,000MW. This phase is distinguished not only by its massive generation capacity but also by the integration of an extensive battery energy storage system (BESS), with a total discharge capacity of 1,000MW for six hours, translating into 6,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of storage.
Such a scale would make it one of the largest solar-plus-storage projects globally, allowing Dubai to achieve greater energy security, grid stability, and renewable penetration even during non-solar hours. It demonstrates DEWA’s commitment to technological leadership, energy diversification, and long-term emissions reduction in alignment with the emirate’s strategic objectives.
Broad International Interest in Solar Park Development
As of the most recent expressions of interest (EOIs), 47 leading international firms have shown interest in participating in the seventh phase’s development, indicating a strong appetite among global investors and technology providers to collaborate with DEWA on this milestone project. DEWA’s open and competitive IPP framework continues to attract premier companies eager to bring innovative solutions to the region.
This broad interest is a testament to Dubai’s rising global profile in renewable energy and the transparent, investor-friendly ecosystem cultivated by DEWA. The authority’s IPP model has previously delivered high-performance solar projects at record-breaking low costs per kilowatt-hour, making it one of the most efficient energy procurement programs worldwide.
A Strategic Pillar in Dubai’s Green Economy
HE Al Tayer reaffirmed that international initiatives like the China roadshow are critical to achieving Dubai’s green energy and sustainability aspirations. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, expected to reach 5,000MW capacity by 2030, plays a pivotal role in this journey. With over 2,627MW already in operation and additional capacity under various stages of construction and planning, the solar park is central to DEWA’s strategy to generate 100% of Dubai’s power from clean sources by 2050.
Moreover, the integration of large-scale battery storage complements Dubai’s vision of a flexible, intelligent, and resilient energy system capable of supporting peak demand and minimizing dependence on fossil fuels.
