The UAE’s renewable energy sector, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced that its pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta will begin exporting clean energy [1] to Dubai in April 2025. This project, which is the first of its kind in the GCC region, is set to contribute to Dubai’s clean energy goals significantly. As part of its clean energy goals, Dubai aims to achieve 75% of its energy from clean sources by 2050 and provide 100% of its total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
The Hatta hydroelectric plant, with an investment of AED 1.421 billion, is designed to generate electricity using water stored in the Hatta Dam and a newly constructed upper dam in the mountains. The plant boasts a production capacity of 250 megawatts (MW) and a storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours, with a projected lifespan of up to 80 years.
Operational tests for the plant began in January 2025, and the project has reached 96.82 percent completion. The plant operates with a turnaround efficiency of 78.9 percent, utilizing the potential energy of water stored in the upper dam. This water flows through a 1.2-kilometer subterranean tunnel, converting potential energy into kinetic energy, which then rotates turbines to generate electricity. The generated electricity can be delivered to DEWA’s grid within 90 seconds to meet demand.
To store energy, the plant will use clean power generated at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to pump water back to the upper dam, converting electrical power into kinetic energy during the process2. This innovative approach ensures a sustainable and efficient energy storage solution.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, highlighted that the project aligns with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. These strategies aim to provide 100 percent of Dubai’s total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 20502. The Hatta hydroelectric plant is a key component of DEWA’s efforts to diversify energy production from renewable and clean sources, including solar photovoltaic panels, concentrated solar power, and green hydrogen production.
This initiative marks a significant step forward in Dubai’s journey towards a more sustainable and resilient energy future. By integrating advanced hydroelectric storage solutions, the emirate is poised to enhance its renewable energy capacity and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.
Sources:
[1] DEWA’s Hatta Hydroelectric Plant to Begin Exporting Clean Energy to Dubai in April 2025 https://solarquarter.com/2025/02/24/dewas-hatta-hydroelectric-plant-to-begin-exporting-clean-energy-to-dubai-in-april-2025/