DEWA's Hatta Hydroelectric Power Plant 94% Complete, Set for Trial Run in 2025

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced that its pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta is 94.15% complete, with generator installations underway in preparation for a trial operation slated for the first quarter of 2025.

The plant’s upper dam, which includes a 72-meter-high main wall and a 37-meter-high side dam, is now fully filled.

The facility, designed as an energy storage solution, boasts a remarkable turnaround efficiency of 78.9%. It stores energy by harnessing the potential of water in the upper dam, which is then converted into kinetic energy as it flows through a 1.2-kilometer subterranean tunnel. This energy drives turbines, generating electricity that can be supplied to DEWA’s grid within just 90 seconds, meeting peak demand.

The plant will have a production capacity of 250 megawatts (MW) and a storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours, with a projected lifespan of 80 years. It is the first of its kind in the Arabian Gulf region, with an investment of AED 1.421 billion. Full completion is expected by the end of the second quarter of 2025.

This innovative project is part of DEWA's broader strategy to develop Hatta, support sustainable growth, and create job opportunities for Emiratis. It aligns with Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy and Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, contributing to the diversification of Dubai’s renewable energy sources. The project also integrates solar power from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and paves the way for clean energy innovations, including green hydrogen production.

News Source: Dubai Media Office