Abu Dhabi follows the primary objectives of the Emirates by developing strategies and technologies that will lead the territory to 100 percent sustainability. To achieve this, Abu Dhabi announced the creation of a unique solar plant in the world that will operate 24 hours a day, every day.
Investment in this territory is shifting its focus, redirecting oil exploitation revenues into systems that will enable future replacements. In this context, the emirate’s authorities confirmed a $6 billion investment for the installation of the Al Dhafra Solar PV2 photovoltaic plant, which will feature a unique characteristic worldwide.
The transformation of Abu Dhabi and a unique investment in the world
The Al Dhafra Solar PV2 project is led by Masdar, whose plan is to build a plant capable of generating clean energy every day, 24 hours a day, using natural sunlight, solar panels, and a unique 19 GWh battery storage system. This plan will be overseen by the state-owned company EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company) and has become one of the most ambitious projects in the city to date.
This unique plant will supply energy to millions of homes and will also provide 1 GW of the base load for the grid, which is the minimum required for power supply that is usually covered by thermal sources such as coal and gas. This plan not only involves the efforts of local authorities but also requires partnerships with other countries. In this case, Chinese companies JA Solar and Jinko Solar will supply 2.6 GW of solar panels.
How the energy transition in Abu Dhabi will unfold
This project in Abu Dhabi was presented at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the owner of Masdar, the project’s promoter, spoke about the significant transformations that such innovations entail for the nation. “This is a key step in unlocking the potential of solar energy in the region,” said Sultan Al Jaber, who also has the backing of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and other entities.
The creation of this plant renews the Emirates’ commitment to becoming a territory powered by renewable and clean energy in the future, positioning it at the forefront of the world. This site will feature the battery energy storage system (BESS), which accumulates renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, and releases it according to demand.
A path toward transformation in Abu Dhabi
The new project led by Masdar in Abu Dhabi has an estimated completion date of two years. However, this announcement paves the way for even greater development: the Energy Strategy 2050. This complex will have a solar capacity of 5 gigawatts (GW) and a 19-gigawatt-hour (GWh) storage mechanism. The site will cover approximately 90 square kilometers in the desert, and as mentioned, its main goal is to achieve a gigawatt of uninterrupted energy by 2027.
Thus, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the United Arab Emirates aim to establish themselves as a territory capable of diversifying energy sources. As the president of Masdar stated, this plan is feasible because there are one billion people worldwide without access to electricity, and global demand could triple by 2050.
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