Abu Dhabi has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the home of the world's largest single-site solar power plant, a remarkable accomplishment preceding the UAE's hosting of the UN climate change conference, COP28.
(Photo : KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)
A general view shows Abbu Dhabi's skyline across the Gulf waters in the Emirati capital on January 24, 2022.
World's Largest Single-Site Solar Power Plant
Inaugurated on November 17, the Al Dhafra solar farm is a massive 2-gigawatt (GW) facility located 22 miles from Abu Dhabi. Ownership of the plant is shared among clean energy firm Masdar, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), France's EDF Renewables, China's JinkoPower, and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), the electricity procurer.
Featuring nearly 4 million bi-facial solar panels, Interesting Engineering reported that the plant is anticipated to generate sufficient power for nearly 200,000 households, simultaneously mitigating 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar, and COP28 President-Designate, emphasized the project's significance in advancing solar power efficiency, innovation, and cost competitiveness, setting a new record-low tariff.
The construction of the Al Dhafra solar park unfolded in a singular phase, spanning over 20 square kilometers of desert and contributing to the creation of over 4,500 jobs during the peak building period.
Encompassing approximately 4 million solar panels, the facility utilizes cutting-edge crystalline, bifacial solar technology, enabling it to harness solar irradiation from both the front and rear of the panel for enhanced power efficiency.
Reducing CO2 Emissions by 2 Million Metric Tonnes Annually
PR Newswire reported that this expansive plant is anticipated to significantly reduce Abu Dhabi's CO2 emissions by more than 2.4 million metric tonnes annually, a feat equivalent to eliminating approximately 470,000 cars from the road.
Noteworthy is the project's achievement in setting cost records for utility-scale solar initiatives. Initially securing one of the most competitive solar electricity tariffs at AED 4.97 fils/kWh (1.35 cents/kWh), the project later improved to AED 4.85 fils/kWh ($1.32 cents) upon commencement of commercial operations.
The project has already commenced the supply of energy to the grid. Facilitating the shift to renewable electricity generation, EWEC has recently initiated the construction of two new solar power projects mirroring the size and scale of the Al Dhafra Solar PV.
This expansion positions Abu Dhabi as home to four of the world's largest solar power plants. As part of an ambitious strategic plan, EWEC aims to commission an additional 1GW of solar power projects annually in Abu Dhabi over the next decade.
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Chairman of the Department of Energy in Abu Dhabi, HE Engineer Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, emphasized the significance of the Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic inauguration as a strategic leap, enhancing United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi's position in the clean and renewable energy sector.
This reflects their proactive role in driving global expansion in clean energy, aligning with the leadership's commitment to promoting the widespread adoption of clean technologies and renewable energy solutions.
Additionally, it reinforces global climate action efforts and contributes to the realization of the UAE Net Zero 2050 initiative.
The project is expected to create opportunities for sustainable economic and social growth while maintaining a balance between sustainable development and climate change mitigation. It aims to foster a knowledge-based economy, harness clean technology, and establish a diversified energy mix.
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