Africa & Middle East — UAE
HOMER software for energy projects in the UAE
The UAE has the world's lowest-cost large-scale solar projects — Al Dhafra at $0.013/kWh, the MBRS Solar Park regularly setting global auction records. With solar irradiance among the world's highest, near-zero land cost constraints, and ambitious net zero targets, the UAE is executing the fastest utility-scale renewable buildout on earth. HOMER models every layer of that transition.
UAE's energy sector
The UAE's electricity sector is structured by emirate. DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) is the integrated utility for Dubai, operating the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBRS) Solar Park — targeting 5 GW by 2030 — and procuring renewable capacity through competitive IPP auctions that have consistently set global low-cost solar records. Abu Dhabi's electricity sector is governed by the Department of Energy (DoE); ADWEC (Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company) is the single buyer, with TRANSCO managing transmission. Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) is the clean energy developer, behind the Noor Abu Dhabi (1.177 GW) and Al Dhafra (2.1 GW) solar projects.
The UAE's net zero by 2050 strategic initiative (UAE Net Zero 2050) targets 44% clean energy in the generation mix by 2050, with renewable and nuclear (Barakah) as the primary pathways. The UAE Energy Strategy 2050 targets clean energy at 44% of the mix, with renewable energy at approximately 30% and nuclear at 6%. BESS co-location requirements are emerging as renewable penetration rises and the evening demand peak creates a generation gap that solar cannot fill without storage.
Utility-scale solar and storage — HOMER Front
The UAE's utility-scale solar market is defined by large-scale ground-mounted plants, ultra-competitive IPP auctions, and the rapid move toward solar-plus-storage co-location. The MBRS Solar Park phases — Phase 4 (900 MW CSP + 250 MW PV, commissioned 2020), Phase 5 (900 MW PV, 2021), and subsequent phases targeting total 5 GW — represent DEWA's procurement programme. Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra solar project (2.1 GW, commissioned 2023) set the world record low solar tariff at $0.013/kWh at time of award.
HOMER Front models UAE utility-scale solar and storage assets: generation profiles at UAE irradiance levels (GHI 2,200–2,400 kWh/m²/year), BESS dispatch optimisation for the DEWA and ADWEC capacity market structures, curtailment risk modelling as renewable penetration increases, and the dispatch economics for CSP assets with thermal storage. Independent engineers for UAE project financings use HOMER Front to verify developer models and stress-test dispatch assumptions for lender presentations.
Green hydrogen and electrolyser dispatch — HOMER Front
The UAE is positioning itself as a global green hydrogen exporter. Masdar's green hydrogen programme, ADNOC's blue and green hydrogen strategy, and the World Green Hydrogen Summit hosted in Abu Dhabi signal the policy direction. The UAE's National Hydrogen Strategy (2023) targets 1.4 million tonnes of clean hydrogen production annually by 2031. Electrolyser-renewable-storage integration — where the electrolyser operates as a flexible load dispatched against renewable generation availability — is a core HOMER modelling use case.
HOMER Front models UAE green hydrogen project economics: PEM or alkaline electrolyser dispatch against co-located solar and BESS, curtailment minimisation, hydrogen storage sizing, and the optimal renewable oversizing ratio for maximum electrolyser utilisation. The NEOM Green Hydrogen project (4 GW electrolysis, developed by ACWA Power, Air Products, and NEOM for export to Aqaba) and Oman's Hyport Duqm represent the regional scale of ambition that HOMER's electrolyser dispatch modelling addresses.
Data centres, free zones, and C&I — HOMER Grid
The UAE is the Middle East's dominant data centre hub. Dubai Internet City, DIFC, Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and the Masdar City free zone host regional headquarters of hyperscale operators including AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle. Data centre growth is driven by the UAE's position as the GCC's financial and logistics hub, with AI-driven expansion of GPU cluster capacity intensifying the grid connection challenge.
HOMER Grid models UAE data centre and free zone energy strategies: rooftop solar on available industrial building footprints (constrained by cooling plant roof loadings), BESS for demand management under DEWA and ADWEC maximum demand tariff structures, diesel or fuel cell backup for resilience (UAE data centres typically target Tier III or IV design), and the economics of on-site renewable generation versus DEWA/ADWEC green tariff purchases. RE100 corporate members operating in the UAE are increasingly requiring renewable energy procurement documentation, and HOMER Grid quantifies the self-generation component.
UAE market context
DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority)
Integrated utility for Dubai. Operates the MBRS Solar Park IPP programme, sets DEWA retail tariffs, and provides the grid connection framework for distributed and behind-the-meter generation in Dubai.
ADWEC / DoE Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company is the single buyer for Abu Dhabi generation. The Department of Energy sets renewable policy. TRANSCO manages Abu Dhabi's transmission network.
Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company)
Abu Dhabi's state clean energy developer. Develops utility-scale solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects globally. Operates Masdar City, the UAE's low-carbon urban development and free zone.
UAE Energy Strategy 2050 / Net Zero 2050
The UAE's long-term energy and climate frameworks. Target clean energy at 44% of generation mix by 2050 and net zero emissions by 2050. Governs renewable procurement targets and carbon pricing development.
Ready to model your UAE project?
Whether you're optimising a utility-scale solar-plus-storage asset for a DEWA or ADWEC PPA, modelling an electrolyser dispatch strategy for green hydrogen export, or designing a data centre energy strategy, HOMER gives you the rigorous analysis your investors require.