As the world grows ever more hungry for energy, there is one source that guarantees a lifetime of cheap and endless supply — the sun. But not all nations have managed to harness the massive potential offered by solar energy.
It is in this context that the launch of the world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) project in Dubai, to be built at a cost of Dh14.2 billion, is yet another path-breaking moment — for it reaffirms Dubai’s and the UAE’s leadership in powering our future towards clean energy. The largest single-site project will generate 700 megawatts of power when completed, and will include the world’s tallest solar tower at 260 metres. The project, to be implemented by the Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa), boasts a Dh100 billion fund to finance the plan. But more than the records, the project marks a major leap in project efficiency and sustainability — while it will achieve the lowest cost price of energy with 7.3 US cents (27 fils) per kilowatt, the project’s construction using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model will unlock immense financial value. The project thus celebrates what has now become a tradition in UAE’s culture of innovation: raising the bar every time a new initiative is unveiled.
The UAE has always been at the forefront of clean energy initiatives — from the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to Masdar to the Dubai Solar Show to welcoming green energy pioneer Tesla to launching solar power calculators for residents and much more. The key driver remains the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, by which date 75 per cent of the emirate’s energy will be from green energy. Solar power in the UAE is thus not just a source of alternative energy but a defining part of the country’s future. It is therefore incumbent upon everyone to support such pioneering efforts and actively embrace clean energy as a part of our daily lives.
