220,000 tons of Molten Salt for Dubai’s Giant Solar Project

Away from fossil fuels, toward renewable energies. The United Arab Emirates has set itself the goal of meeting its growing energy needs entirely from renewable sources by 2050. To this end, the emirate plans to invest around AED 600 billion (USD 153 billion) over the next nearly 30 years.

7 February 2022

News

Katja Siefke

Jumbo bags of Molton Salt stored at Jebel Ali Port, Dubai UAE.

The World’s Largest Solar Park

One of the largest projects to generate green energy is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai's desert, named after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Rule of Dubai. The Solar Park is set to become the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.

The solar park is set to generate 1,000 MW by 2020 and 5,000 MW by 2030 and once completed, the project is expected to provide clean energy to over 270,000 residences in Dubai and eliminate 1.4 million tons of carbon emissions per year.

Initial plans for the gigantic solar park were made as early as January 2012. The first construction phase began in 2013, followed by various expansion phases between 2016 and 2018. The fifth and for the time being final construction phase began in the second quarter of 2021.

1,450 Trucks per Vessel Operation

In the course of this expansion. Hellmann Dubai has been awarded to provide logistics services from Liner Out Jebel Ali Port up to Free On truck Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park site for 220,000 tons of Molten Salt. Three vessels, which carried in total 120,000 tons (100,000 Jumbo bags) have been successfully managed and delivered.

The scope of work included stevedoring, port handling, discharge coordination of 4,125 tons per day from the vessel by supplying enough trucks for direct/MAFI for indirect delivery without letting the vessel idle at any time.

Hellmann also provided the EPC contractor (Shanghai Electric Company) a solution to store 35,000 tons of Molten Salt outside the project site due to the space issue.

Trucks standing in line - a total of 1450 trucks were needed to transport the big bags from the port to the construction site.

Facts & Figures

Power Station: Noor Energy 1 / DEWA IV 700MW CSP+ 250MW PV
Location: Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Owners: Dubai Electricity & Water Authority
Start Year: 2022

What is Molten Salt?

Molten salt is solid at standard temperature and pressure but enters the liquid phase due to elevated temperature. A salt that is normally liquid even at standard temperature and pressure is usually called a room temperature ionic liquid, although technically molten salts are a class of ionic liquids.

Molten salts (fluoride, chloride, and nitrate) can also be used as heat transfer fluids as well as for thermal storage. This thermal storage is commonly used in molten salt power plants (source: Wikipedia).