What is it all about?

A giant step towards being more sustainable and promote the usage of clean energy in the UAE. Located deep within Dubai’s desert interior, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park or Dubai Solar Park has been built to improve the sustainable advancement of Dubai and strengthen the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to make Dubai a global hub for clean energy and green economy. The strategy aims to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050. Once finished, the 50 billion-dirham ($13.6 billion) investment could power as many as 1.3 million homes, reducing carbon emissions by 6.5 million tons annually.
After breaking ground in March 2018, the base is now complete and it is the tallest concentrated solar power (CSP) tower in the world. It uses mirrors called heliostats to focus sunlight at the top of the tower, to heat a flow of molten salts. The heat is used to power steam turbines, producing electricity.

Facts about Dubai Solar Park:

Dubai Solar Park is a technological and architectural marvel. Here are some interesting facts about it-

• The Dubai Solar Plant is the largest single-site solar energy project in the world.
• It is expected to reduce 6.5 million tons of carbon emissions annually when complete. 
• Dubai Solar Park has a 3D-printed lab which is one of its kind in the world.
• It is the world’s tallest solar power tower at 262.44 meters.
• It has set the world record by obtaining the lowest cost for photovoltaic solar power.
• It has a water desalination plant, as well as a Research and Development Centre.
• It aims to provide clean energy for 320,000 residences and reduce 1.6 million tons of carbon emissions a year.

Planning your visit:

Opening hours–

The Centre is open from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm Sunday to Thursday, and closed during Fridays and Saturdays. You are advised to be there at the centre 15 minutes before the show. Visiting the park is free for everyone, however, you need to book by visiting this link.

Tour Agenda–

1. Auditorium – Introduction 

2. Tour in the Exhibition area, that includes:

• History Zone – Learn about the history of electricity with hands-on experiments.
• Light Zone – Learn the characteristics of light with interactive exhibits.
• Solar Zone – Learn how the Centre harnesses the energy from the Sun and convert it to electrical energy using different methods.
• Future Zone – You get to experience a future with clean energy.

If you are looking for more such offbeat places in Dubai then don’t forget to visit this link here.