The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has awarded Stantec International an engineering consultancy contract to build a laboratory for research and development at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

The scope of the contract includes services related to the design and building of the centre, developing tenders, the assessment of project contractors and onsite supervision during the building process.

The contract pertains to the second phase of implementation of the Research and Development Centre, state news agency WAM reported.

The centre will enable the government body to stay abreast of the latest scientific advancements in renewable energy, said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA. It will also support the goals of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to diversify energy sources in the emirate, he added.

“The centre will contribute to raising Dubai’s position as a global hub for research and development in solar energy, smart grids, and water and energy efficiency,” Al Tayer said.

The upcoming Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will have a total capacity of 3,000MW by 2030. DEWA said last month it would float a tender for the 800MW phase three of the park in the fourth quarter of this year.