World’s biggest solar power plant opens in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi The 100-megawatt Shams (Arabic for sun) 1, the world’s biggest concentrated solar power plant (CSP) in operation, was launched last week in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region, 6km from Madinat Zayed town, about an hour from the capital. While smaller plants exist elsewhere, ranging in size from 14MW to 80MW (including the first one in California’s Mojave Desert, operating since 1984) Abu Dhabi’s Shams 1 is the largest plant in operation.

Shams 1 uses a parabolic trough technology, a solar thermal-electric system different from photovoltaic solar power, which generates electricity using solar panels batteries and a system of power inverters. Unlike photovoltaic solar panels, CSP uses two loops of pipes — heat-transfer fluid (HTF) and solar steam loops. The steam drives turbines which generates electricity enough for 20,000 homes.