Abu Dhabi will soon launch a giant solar project with a 2 gigawatt (GW) capacity in the Al Dhafra region of the emirate thus setting a new record in the region, said a senior minister.
"I am excited to announce that this new project here will eclipse the record-breaking 1-GW Noor Abu Dhabi plant," revealed Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, without elaborating further on the new project.
The Dh3.2-billion ($871 million) Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant, located at Sweihan region of the emirate, is a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Power Corporation and a consortium of Japan’s Marubeni Corp and China’s Jinko Solar Holding.
Noor Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest single solar project, with a capacity of 1,177 megawatt (MW) began commercial operation on the eve of the Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting.
Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), a leading company in the coordination of planning, purchasing and providing of water and electricity across the UAE, said the project will enable Abu Dhabi to increase its production of renewable energy and reduce the use of natural gas in electricity generation.
This will make energy more sustainable and efficient and reducing the emirate’s carbon dioxide emissions by 1 million metric tonnes per year, the equivalent of removing 200,000 cars off the roads, stated Ewec.
Providing enough capacity to cover the demand of 90,000 people, the plant features more than 3.2 million solar panels, installed across an 8-sq-km site.
Beyond size, Noor Abu Dhabi broke another record at the time of bid submission, attracting the world’s most competitive tariff of 8.888 fils/ kilowatt hour, it added.
