Hassyan project to be converted to natural gas

(Image: source/xliii/03/images/hassyan.jpg)

Saudi-based Acwa Power has reached an agreement with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) for the conversion of the 2,400MW Hassyan Power Plant from clean coal to natural gas.

The operation of the coal project on gas will result in an entirely coal-free Acwa Power portfolio and is in line with the company's strategy to lead the way to de-carbonisation and focus predominantly on renewables and transitional low CO2 projects and to its 2050 net-zero emissions target.

Acwa Power, a leader in power generation and water desalination plants, owns a net stake of 26.95 per cent of Hassyan Power Plant.

The Hassyan Complex includes a water desalination project with a production capacity of 120 million imperial gallons of water per day (MIGD) using reverse osmosis (RO) technology based on the Independent Water Producer (IWP) model. RO requires less energy than multi-stage flash distillation (MSF) plants, making it a more sustainable choice for water desalination.

Lauding the Dewa decision, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, said: "This step supports Dubai's energy supply security by diversifying the energy mix through the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Dubai's carbon neutrality strategy 2050 to provide 100 per cent of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050."

"The move is also in line with international efforts to reduce relying on high-carbon-emissions energy sources. The initiative is consistent with the pivotal role that gas is expected to play in enabling economic growth in the UAE over the next fifty years," observed Sheikh Ahmed.

Meanwhile, Dewa has confirmed that the current production capacity of Hassyan Power Complex has reached 1,200 MW, using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.

A further 600 MW will be added in Q4 of 2022 and an additional 600 MW will be added by Q3 of 2023, thus taking its total capacity to 2,400 MW.

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