Saudi developer ACWA Power has appointed Shanghai Electric as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the 900MW fifth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid solar farm in Dubai, UAE.
Shanghai Electric will deliver the $564m (€480m) project in three phases, with a construction period of 12 months on each 300MW stage.
ACWA Power said the development will be the first utility-scale PV plant to operate remotely with zero manpower on site.
The EPC deal follows only three months after the signing of a power purchase agreement between Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and the development consortium led by ACWA Power.
ACWA Power chairman Mohammad Abunayyan said: “As we move swiftly forward with implementation, the signing of the EPC agreement between ACWA Power and Shanghai Electric represents a crucial milestone in the delivery of phase five of the Mohammed Bin Rashid solar park.
“With their participation, this iconic project will be realized through an international collaboration between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and China.
“We are delighted to have been a reliable and trusted partner for DEWA’s ambitious goals and remain committed to building on our strong relationships with both Shanghai Electric and DEWA, leveraging our combined expertise, technical insights and pioneering technologies to create a legacy of success.”
Shanghai Electric chairman Zheng Jianhua said: “ACWA Power and Shanghai Electric are both acknowledged as important participators in the global energy field.
“I hope the upcoming 900MW photovoltaic solar power (project) would be another benchmark in the region as well as worldwide.”