Biggest, cheapest, latest: Revolution in renewables is happening right here in the UAE

DRIVING THE ECONOMICS OF RENEWABLES: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the world’s top fossil-fuel producers, has led the region and the world in making renewable energy become economically attractive — through the use of latest technologies, mega-projects and open competitive bids.

ENERGY MIX: The Emirates has set the pace in the energy transition for the Gulf and has the highest portfolio of renewables for the region. The country is pushing billions of dollars worth of renewable power projects as it aims to generate 50% of its energy mix from clean and renewable energy, including nuclear power, by 2050. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai proves clean energy to more than 240,000 homes in the Emirate.

ENERGY MIX: The Emirates is undertaking the largest, cheapest and latest renewable projects. To have over 11 GW of clean energy in 3 years, the country has embarked on renewable and nuclear power generation drive as part of plans to boost power production from renewables and energy security.

MASSIVE PUSH: In January 2017, the UAE launched a national “Energy Strategy 2050”. The target: produce half its power from renewables — which includes plans to produce 44% of power from renewables, 6% from nuclear. The UAE allocated over $163 billion to meet this goal.

INVESTMENTS: In a May 2021 report, S&P Global pointed to a spike in UAE investments in solar and energy sources, with the aim of having over 11 GW of clean energy in 3 years. The country is also working on reducing water and power consumption, and bringing pumped hydro-electric to the region. The 950 MW Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park includes a concentrating solar power (CSP) facility.

RAMPING UP SAVINGS: According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, ramping up renewables could generate annual savings of $1.9 billion by 2030 through avoidance of fossil-fuel consumption and lower energy costs.

MBR SOLAR PARK: As of April 2021, the MBR Solar Park in Dubai, has reached an operational capacity of 1,013MW from photovoltaic solar panels. It has an additional 1,850MW capacity under construction from photovoltaic and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). Ultimately, the park, located in Seih Al-Dahal, is planned to have a total capacity of 5GW by 2030 and investments worth over $10 billion.

CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER: Shams Solar Power Station is a concentrating solar power located about 120km southwest of Abu Dhabi, UAE, and 6 km from Madinat Zayed. Shams 1 was the largest renewable energy project in operation in the Middle East when launched in 2013. It occupies 2.5 square kilometres and has a capacity of 100 megawatts. The solar field has 768 parabolic trough collectors to generate clean, renewable electricity. Concentrated solar power generates electricity from the heat of the sun rather than sunlight, as is the case with solar photovoltaic technology. 

NET SAVINGS: The transition to renewables could generate additional net annual savings of $1 billion to as much as $3.7 billion by 2030 — if health and environmental benefits are factored in, according to IRENA in a joint study with the UAE-based Masdar Institute, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Directorate of Energy and Climate Change.

NOOR ABU DHABI SOLAR PLANT: The Dh3.2-billion Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant, located at Sweihan in Abu Dhabi. Noor, with a 1,177MW capacity enough to power 90,000 people, was the cheapest solar project when it was launched 3 years ago. It is a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Government and a consortium of Japan’s Marubeni Corp and China’s Jinko Solar Holding.

LEADER: The UAE is now a leading producer of solar power. PV Tech, an industry journal, reported in February 2021 that UAE solar capacity is set to increase four-fold by end of 2025 thanks to a robust development pipeline. TAQA (or Abu Dhabi National Energy Co.), which owns 40% in the new 2 GW Al Dhafra solar power plant, will operate at the lowest tariff in the industry.

BIGGEST SOLAR PROJECT: The world's biggest solar power project is the 2-gigawatt (GW) Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic (PV) facility in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, UAE. In December 2020, it was announced that it had received financing from seven international banks. A competitive bidding for the project led to one of the most competitive tariffs for solar power — set at Dh4.97 fils/kWh — which upon financial closing, was further brought down to 4.85 fils/kWh (1.32 US cents).

RECORD-LOW TARIFFS: Al Dhafra Solar is not only the biggest, but also the cheapest. Competitive bids for the 2GW Al Dhafra project set a price of 1.35 US cents per kWh. ADPower said it received the world's lowest tariff for solar power, with a cost-competitive tariff for solar PV energy set at 4.97 fils ($1.35 cents) per kilowatt hour (kWh).

LATEST TECHNOLOGY: The plant will deploy the latest in “crystalline, bifacial solar technology”, which has a higher efficiency compared to conventional solar power technology, by capturing solar irradiation from both the front and backside of the panel. Once completed, it will be the world’s largest single-site solar power plant, using approximately 4 million solar panels to generate enough electricity for approximately 160,000 homes across the UAE.

IMPROVED PROSPECTS: The analysis of the UAE’s renewable energy prospects comes as part of REmap 2030, IRENA’s roadmap for doubling the share of renewables in the global energy mix. Since 2010, rising natural gas prices in the UAE have combined with rapidly falling technology costs for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, in particular. This has made renewables a competitive option for power generation in the UAE – a net importer of natural gas.

SHARJAH WASTE-TO-ENERGY PROJECT: Masdar has partnered with Bee’ah environmental management company to develop a cutting-edge waste-to-energy plant in the Emirate of Sharjah. Diverting more than 300,000 tonnes of solid municipal waste from landfill each year, it will contribute to Sharjah's effort to reach "zero waste-to-landfill" target and the UAE to deliver its 2021 goal of diverting 75% of solid waste from landfills.

WASTE-TO-ENERGY: Waste-to-energy conversion has also become more economically viable with natural gas prices going up. Experts say these recent developments create financial reasons for the country to accelerate its renewable energy deployment beyond the existing targets in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other emirates.

AMBITIOUS PROJECT: In 2018, Dubai has announced the launch of its ambitious waste-to-energy project at Warsan area. The Dh2.5-billion project aims to treat 1.82-million tonnes of solid waste annually, with a total capacity to generate 185 MW of electricity. When completed, this will be the world’s largest waste-to-energy plant operating at one site, capable of providing power to 120,000 homes, equivalent to 2,000 skyscrapers the size of Burj Khalifa.

PEACEFUL USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY: On April 6, 2021, the UAE achieved a milestone as the country’s first of four Barakah nuclear power stations located in Gharbiya region of Abu Dhabi started supplying power to national power grid. With a total capacity of 5,600MW when completed, it is intended to supply up to 25% of UAE’s energy needs. https://gn24.ae/b80f97951b91000

BARAKAH NUCLEAR ENERGY PLANT: The UAE’s Al Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is the first Arab nuclear power station. The start of its commercial operations is a historic achievement for the country that significantly enhances the sustainability of its entire power sector. In March 2021, the plant successfully completed fuel assembly loading into Unit 1, marking the commissioning of nuclear operations.

PUMPED HYDRO-ELECTRIC: Construction is ongoing to build Dubai's pumped-storage hydro-electric power plant near the community of Hatta in the Hajjar Mountains, about 140 km southeast of the city of the city. The existing Saad Hatta Al Awwal Dam will be used as the lower reservoir, the upper reservoir will be about 150m higher. Both reservoirs will be connected by a 1.2-km long pressure tunnel.

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND IN THE GULF: The pumped hydroelectric power station in Hatta is the first of its kind in the GCC region. The 250MW station will generate electricity by making use of the water stored in Hatta Dam. It will have a storage capacity of 1,500 MWh and a life span of 80 years, with investments totalling around Dh1.421 billion ($386.87 million).

POWER FROM WATER — IN THE DESERT: Based on the Hatta Pumped Hydro Power design, the upper reservoir will be constructed with two roller-compacted concrete dams with a height of approximately 35 m and 70 m. Additionally, a powerhouse with 2 units capable of generating a total net power of 250MW over the 6-hours generation cycle. Waterways will consist of one tunnel of approximately 1,300m length and 7m diameter to feed the powerhouse with an estimated 200 m³/s. The Dh1.92-billion project is a major component to achieve the targets of Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050. It’s the first-of-its-kind project in the Arabian Gulf, with an expected lifespan of 60 to 80 years.