Abu Dhabi takes a giant step in clean energy use

Dubai: Masdar, Abu Dhabi's multi-faceted alternative energy initiative, on Thursday said construction of the first and largest grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the Middle East and North Africa region is under way.

The solar power plant will initially support the ongoing construction activities of Masdar City and later will provide power for the Masdar Institute, which opens later this year.

The plant will also supply clean energy to the Masdar Site Administration Facilities. Excess energy generated will be supplied to the Abu Dhabi grid, providing consumers with their first experience of alternative energy.

The 10 megawatt (MW) plant, consisting of 50 per cent thin film and 50 per cent crystalline, is projected to generate 17,500 megawatt-hour of clean energy each year with 15,000 tonnes of annual carbon dioxide savings.

A single kilowatt-hour of green energy is the carbon-offset equivalent of 0.8 kilogrammes depending on an area's network and its energy-producing source. Following the complete installation of all 87,777 thin film and photo crystalline silicon panels, the plant will be grid connected.

The plant was designed and installed by Abu Dhabi-based solar power system integrator Enviromena Power Systems.

"This 10 MW plant signals a bold step forward in the drive to increase the adoption of alternative energy in the region," said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar.

"It provides the foundation on which the construction of Masdar City will be built, and demonstrates the viability and attractiveness for further PV plants to be built within the region.

"More importantly, our drive towards encouraging local companies to form global partnerships and initiate knowledge transfer is an integral component to delivering on the Abu Dhabi Plan 2030 set by our leadership," he said.

With a construction cost of Dh185 million and an installed power capacity of 10 megawatt-peak (MWp), the plant will be considered one the most cost-efficient PV installation in the world in terms of projected power output.

Enviromena CEO and president, Sami Khoreibi, said: "When designing this plant for Masdar, we focused on using world-class components, while using locally based contractors. In alignment with Masdar's goals, this cost efficient system will further promote the implementation of solar technology both in the region and beyond.