Tadweer inaugurates second phase of solar power unit at Abu Dhabi recycling facility

The Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center (Tadweer) announced the opening of the second phase of the solar power plant at the Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Facility in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region.

Aimed at lowering the facility’s carbon footprint, the recycling unit is reportedly the first of its kind in the world to be 90 per cent solar-powered.

Opened in Ghayathi, Al Dhafra in 2008, Tadweer’s recycling facility aims to meet the Abu Dhabi government’s plans to divert 75 per cent of waste away from landfills.

أعلن مركز أبوظبي لإدارة النفايات #تدوير عن افتتاح المرحلة الثانية من محطة توليد الكهرباء بالطاقة الشمسية المتجددة لمحطة إعادة تدوير مخلفات الهدم والبناء في امارة ابوظبي ، وذلك تماشياً مع الخطط المجدولة على الأجندة الخضراء لدولة #الإمارات المعمول بها حتى عام 2030 pic.twitter.com/pNcmg19HIR

— TADWEER (CWM – AD) (@Tadweer_cwm) September 8, 2020

Tadweer recently confirmed that it has collected 1.05 million tons of waste from domestic, small commercial entities and farms from across Abu Dhabi through its network of contractors in H1 2020.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Tadweer collects over 1.05 million tons of domestic and farm waste in H1 2020

The second phase of the solar power plant in Al Dhafra has significantly enhanced the facility’s solar energy utilisation by increasing its capacity to 600 kilowatts per hour, up by 350 kilowatts per hour.

It will also help lower the facility’s carbon footprint by avoiding more than 1,300 tonnes of carbon emissions – equivalent to planting 4,133 trees and saving 480,000 litres of diesel on a monthly basis.

Tadweer has also installed 1,656 solar cells over an area covering 11,000 square metres, with a capacity to produce a total 600 kilowatts, equivalent to generating 878,000 kilowatts energy from diesel, saving an annual diesel consumption of up to 480,000 litres.

This will help prevent an average of 1,300 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.

“Since its inception, Tadweer has put in place effective operational plans for various sectors of integrated waste management to ensure a safe, healthy and sustainable environment in Abu Dhabi to support the leadership’s vision of promoting sustainable development,” said Dr Salem Al Kaabi, director general of Tadweer.

“At Tadweer, we are committed to working with all relevant entities to achieve the objectives of National Climate Change Plan and foster the emirate’s sustainable economic growth,” added Al Kaabi.

Tadweer’s waste management contracts are valued at Dhs2.4bn spread over five years.