Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has provided an update on plans for a 250MW pumped storage project at Hatta dam, announcing that 14% of the engineering studies have been completed.
The studies are part of the consultancy contract for the project, which covers all design, hydro-geological, geological, environmental, geotechnical, and deep excavation studies. It also includes consultancy on deep-water tunnel designs, the upper reservoir and hydroelectric power station, the tender for material supply, supervision of construction work, site installation, on-site testing and commissioning.
DEWA awarded the AED58 million consultancy contract for the pumped storage station to France’s EDF. The project is the first of its kind in the Arabian Gulf, with a total capacity of 250MW, and a lifespan of 60 to 80 years.
“As part of our support for the Comprehensive Development Plan for Hatta, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we have launched several projects, including the hydroelectric power station, at a cost of AED 1.92 billion,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
The pumped storage project will generate electricity by making use of the water in the Hatta Dam, which can store up to 1716 million gallons, and an upper reservoir that will be built in the mountain that can store up to 880 million gallons. The upper reservoir will be 300m above the dam level.
