Abu Dhabi To Build 350 MW Solar Power Park

After Dubai, other jurisdictions in the United Arab Emirates are also planning to set up large-scale solar power projects with a target to increase the share of renewable energy in their energy consumption.

The Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) is planning to set up a 350 MW solar power park, and is likely to issue a tender for the same over the next few months. According to local media reports, the Authority is expected to select a developer for the project by mid-2016.

The Authority currently has no major renewable energy assets, and services Abu Dhabi with 11 gas-fired power plants. Green energy company, Masdar – also based in Abu Dhabi – does own the Shams 1 solar thermal power plant that sits on the outskirts of the city, and supplies electricity to Masdar City, located within Abu Dhabi.

Following the aggressive participation of international project developers for the development of phase 2 of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, other Emirates have also started planning large-scale solar power projects. Earlier this year, the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) — which services five emirates in the UAE; Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah — announced plans to set up a 100 MW solar power project. 

In October, the UAE cabinet endorsed a target to increase low-carbon energy contribution to the overall energy mix from 0.2% in 2014 to 24% in 2021. Low-carbon technologies would include renewable energy and nuclear power.