Abu Dhabi announces new two-gigawatt solar project
Project is expected to ‘eclipse’ recently opened $871mn Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant
A new two gigawatt (GW) solar project will soon be launched in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, according to Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
The announcement was made while addressing delegates at the recent Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting.
“I am excited to announce that this new project here will eclipse the record-breaking one-gigawatt Noor Abu Dhabi plant,” said Al Zeyoudi. He did not elaborate further on the new plant according to a report by state news agency WAM.
The $871m Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant is a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Power Corporation and a consortium of Japan’s Marubeni Corp and China’s Jinko Solar Holding. It is said to be the world’s largest single solar project, with an installed capacity of 1,177-megawatts (MW), and began commercial operations on the eve of the Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting.
Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) said the project enables Abu Dhabi to increase its production of renewable energy and reduce the use of natural gas in electricity generation. The plant is expected to cover the demands of some 90,000 people and reduce the emirate’s carbon dioxide emissions by one million metric tonnes per year, the equivalent of removing 200,000 cars off the roads.
