UAE unveils world’s largest single-site solar power plant

Masdar, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), EDF Renewables and JinkoPower along with Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) have launched the world’s largest single-site solar power plant.

The launch comes days ahead of COP28, which is scheduled to begin on November 30.

The 2GW Al Dhafra Solar PV project was inaugurated by Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Hazza said: “As the UAE prepares to host COP28, this pioneering project reflects the country’s ongoing commitment to raising its share of clean energy, reducing its carbon emissions and supporting the global efforts on climate action.”

Solar plant highlights

The plant – located 35 kilometres from Abu Dhabi city – was built in a single phase. It uses almost four million solar panels which incorporate bi-facial technology to enable the capture of sunlight on both sides of the panels to increase yield.

It generates electricity to power almost 200,000 homes and will help reduce 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

The plant, which is spread across more than 20 square kilometres of desert, created 4,500 jobs during the peak of the construction phase.

Hazza bin Zayed inaugurates world’s largest single-site solar power plant ahead of #COP28#WamVideo https://t.co/CzG3BpBxkd pic.twitter.com/gZhCF6tg7G

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) November 16, 2023

Initially, the project led to one of the most competitive tariffs for solar power set at Dhs4.97 fils/kWh ($1.35 cents/kWh), which on financial close, was reduced further to Dhs4.85 fils/kWh ($1.32 cents/kWh).

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, chairman of Masdar and COP28 President-Designate, said: “This world-leading project demonstrates remarkable progress in solar power efficiency, innovation and cost competitiveness – setting a new record-low tariff.

“To create Al Dhafra, Masdar brought together three partners from around the world: TAQA, EDF of France and JinkoPower of China. With just days to go before the start of COP28, I will be asking the world to unite and deliver the energy transition by tripling renewables capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.

“Al Dhafra is an example of the scale of the ambition needed around the world.”

TAQA owns 40 per cent of the project, Masdar owns 20 per cent while the remaining partners, EDF Renewables and Jinko Power, own a 20 per cent stake each.

The plant will supply power to the procurer EWEC, raising Abu Dhabi’s solar power production capacity to 3.2GW.

Read: UAE is among top nations for solar energy use, reveals report

Al Dhafra Solar Power Project was built in a single phase and generates enough electricity to displace 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year, marking a significant milestone in the #UAE‘s efforts toward #NetZero and our ESG targets.#TAQA #PoweringaThrivingFuture pic.twitter.com/vhrpkQJBsX

— TAQA (@TAQAGroup) November 16, 2023

Solar projects in Abu Dhabi

Othman Al Ali, CEO of EWEC, said that alongside Noor Abu Dhabi, the newly launched plant has raised EWEC’s solar energy production capacity.

“We have also recently commissioned the development of two additional solar power projects of the same size and scale as Al Dhafra Solar PV, which will proudly make Abu Dhabi home to four of the largest solar power plants in the world.”

“Furthermore, we expect to commission the development of an additional 1GW of new solar power energy projects in Abu Dhabi every year for the next 10 years as part of our strategic plan to rapidly accelerate the decarbonisation of energy production,” Ali added.