DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — The Dubai government has approved an extension to the world's largest single-site solar farm. <br /> <br />The government has given the green light to a 700-MW addition to the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, New Atlas reported. <br />The solar park is located about 50 kms south of Dubai, with the first phase inaugurated back in 2013, according to New Atlas. <br /> <br />It currently has 2.3 million photovoltaic solar panels with a 200-MW capacity. Capacity is expected to grow to 5,000 MW by 2030. <br /> <br />Developers say the park will eventually cover 214 sq km with a 260-m solar tower taking center stage. <br /> <br />The solar plant produces power by using lenses and reflectors to concentrate sunlight in order to heat fluids, which then in turn produce steam to drive a turbine. <br /> <br />An advantage to this type of solar system is that it's more flexible because energy can be stored as heat and used as needed. A drawback is that they are more expensive than photovoltaic solar plants. <br /> <br />Construction of the new extension is set to begin in 2020. The contract was awarded to a consortium of Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power and Shanghai Electric.
