Photo from Masdar

UAE turns on world’s largest single-site solar power plant

The 2 GW Al Dhafra Solar PV project is estimated to power 200,000 homes in UAE.

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), along with industry partners Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), EDF Renewables, JinkoPower, and project procurer Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), launched the largest single-site solar power plant globally, with a total capacity of two gigawatts (GW).

The Al Dhafra project is estimated to supply 200,000 homes and cancel over 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, allowing emissions-free power to be integrated into the UAE grid.

ALSO READ: Philippines needs 152TWh more renewable generation by 2050: report

The project's development has been propelled by the strategic partnership Masdar formed with its counterparts. As a result, the Al Dhafra Solar PV has achieved records for one of the most competitive tariffs for solar power set at $1.35 cents/kWh (AED 4.97 fils/kWh), but further improved by $1.32 cents/kWh (AED 4.85 fils/kWh).

During its construction, an estimated 4 million bi-facial solar panels mounted generated a daily average of 10 megawatts (MW).

“The project contributes to creating opportunities for sustainable economic and social growth, whilst simultaneously achieving a balance between sustainable development and mitigating the impacts of climate change,” HE Engineer Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of the Department of Energy in Abu Dhabi, stated.

Currently, the UAE is the second in the world per capita solar energy usage.

Join Asian Power community
Since you're here...

...there are many ways you can work with us to advertise your company and connect to your customers. Our team can help you dight and create an advertising campaign, in print and digital, on this website and in print magazine.

We can also organize a real life or digital event for you and find thought leader speakers as well as industry leaders, who could be your potential partners, to join the event. We also run some awards programmes which give you an opportunity to be recognized for your achievements during the year and you can join this as a participant or a sponsor.

Let us help you drive your business forward with a good partnership!

Top News

India’s Rajasthan and Gujarat need policy reforms to fuel RE transition
Some steps they could take are implementing green tariffs and setting infrastructure funds.
Global clean energy tech market to hit $2t by 2035
This is fuelled by investments as countries aim to enhance energy security.The global clean energy technology market is projected to grow from $700b in 2023 to over $2t by 2035, nearing the scale of the crude oil market, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).This growth is fuelled by significant investments in clean technology manufacturing as countries aim to enhance energy security, maintain economic competitiveness, and cut emissions. Investment is concentrated in regions with established positions in clean energy, particularly China, the European Union, the UK, and increasingly, India.Whilst the US, EU, and India have taken measures to support their clean energy sectors, China is expected to remain the world's manufacturing hub. By 2035, China's clean technology exports are forecasted to exceed $340b—comparable to projected oil export revenues from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa contribute less than 5% of global cleantech production value, yet the IEA suggests that these areas still hold opportunities within the clean energy economy. Developing economies, for instance, could leverage competitive advantages to advance in the value chain beyond resource extraction.The IEA said Southeast Asia could become one of the most cost-effective regions for producing polysilicon and wafers for solar panels over the next decade.

Exclusives

Coal-dependent ASEAN told to scale up RE generation
A regional power grid could help governments in their renewable energy transition.
Indonesia told to tap communities in clean energy transition
Solar and wind power managed by villages could generate 96 million jobs over 25 years.
Indonesia to add 90 MW geothermal capacity
Three power plants in West and East Java and North Sumatra will start operating this year.