Abu Dhabi: A newly launched platform will allow interested investors to explore the potential of exploiting wind as an energy source across the UAE.
The UAE Wind Atlas, developed by the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, was today (January 19) launched on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit. The online platform provides data on UAE’s wind patterns between 2003-2013, and developers said its key objective is to attract investors.
“At present, Masdar is one of the main institutes looking to develop wind farms across the country, and sites have been chosen mainly in coastal areas, Al Wathba and Sir Bani Yas Island,” said Dr Taha Ouarda, professor and head of Institute Centre for Water and Environment at Masdar.
“While the solar energy industry has seen massive cost decreases over the last few years, we believe that the development of the cost of wind is still falling. So the wind sector can attain competitiveness as well, and this is expected to lure investment,” he added.
The atlas has been developed in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), which is headquartered in the capital. It provides data on wind speed, direction, pressure, humidity and other variables measured over the entire decade, and will allow users to generate customisable charts and obtain results. In its second phase, developers hope to include information that will guide users on the type of wind turbines that can be effectively used in various locations.
Experts said that wind energy will contribute in part to Abu Dhabi emirate’s target of having 7 per cent of its energy needs, estimated to be 15 gigawatts, supplied by renewables by 2020.
In 2012, Masdar also launched a solar atlas for the UAE which allows users to assess the feasibility of solar plants and projects.
