UAE opens world's largest solar power plant

[United]

MADINAT ZAYED, United Arab Emirates, March 17, 2013 (AFP) - Oil-rich Abu Dhabi on Sunday officially opened the world's largest concentrated solar power plant, which cost $600 million to build and will provide electricity to 20,000 homes.

The 100-megawatt Shams 1 is "the world's largest concentrated solar power plant in operation" said Sultan al-Jaber, the head of Abu Dhabi's Masdar, which oversees the emirate's plan to generate seven percent of its energy needs by 2020 from renewable sources.

Masdar now produces 10 percent of the world's concentrated solar power, he said during the official inauguration.

The solar park features long lines of parabolic mirrors spread over an area equivalent to 285 football pitches in the desert of the Western Region, some 120 kilometres (75 miles) southwest of Abu Dhabi.

UAE company owns 60 percent of the project, while France's Total and Spain's Abengoa Solar own 20 percent each.

 

[Anees]

Very good attempt ..

 

[Ayush]

well done..

 

[Kompromat]

UAE is leading the way in the renewable energy market.

 

[Al Bhatti]

A view of the Shams 1 concentrated solar power(CSP) plant on its inauguration day at the Madinat Zayed Gharbia. Shams 1 is the world's largest CSP Plant in operation and the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa.

A view of Shams 1 concentrated solar power (CSP) plant on its inauguration day at the Madinat Zayed Gharbia.

Shams 1 has a capacity of 100 megawatts and is now fully operational. It will provide clean energy to 20,000 homes in the UAE.

Media personnel on a tour of Shams 1 concentrated solar power (CSP) plant on its inauguration day. The plant is a joint venture between Masdar, Total and Abengoa Solar.

A view of the inaugural marker of Shams 1 concentrated solar power (CSP) plant at the Madinat Zayed Gharbia.

Solar collectors of the Shams 1 concentrated solar power (CSP) plant getting a scrubbing on its inauguration day at the Madinat Zayed Gharbia United Arab Emirates on Sunday March 17, 2013.

Emirati Engineer Abdul Aziz, a performance engineer of Shams 1 concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, during a media tour at the Madinat Zayed Gharbia United Arab Emirates on Sunday March 17, 2013.

Shams 1 was designed and developed by Shams Power Company.

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March 17, 2013

Shaikh Khalifa, Shaikh Mohammad BIn Rashid, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed and other senior officials with members of the team who worked on the Shams 1 project (seen in the background) after the inauguration of the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant (CSP) in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi yesterday.

As one of Masdar's flagship projects, Shams 1 will directly contribute toward Abu Dhabi's target of achieving 7 per cent renewable energy power generation capacity by the year 2020.



UAE President inaugurates Shams 1, region's largest concentrated solar power project

Shams 1 a major milestone and a step towards long-term energy security, says Shaikh Khalifa

Shams 1 was officially inaugurated on Sunday in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the presence of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

“The inauguration of Shams 1 is a major milestone in our country’s economic diversification and a step towards long-term energy security,” Shaikh Khalifa was quoted by Emirates News Agency (Wam) as saying.

He also commented on the plant’s future impact.

“Shams 1 is a strategic investment in our country’s economic, social and environmental prosperity,” added Shaikh Khalifa.

“The domestic production of renewable energy extends the life of our country’s valuable hydrocarbon resources and supports the growth of a promising new industry,” he said.

Shaikh Khalifa also expressed his pride in the young Emiratis who worked on this project.

“Expanding our leadership into renewable sources of power demonstrates the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to maintaining its position as a major provider of energy. The expertise they gained, working closely with international companies and building a project of such scale, is the type of human capital development that will enable our country to secure long-term energy leadership,” the President said.

Shams 1, the largest concentrated solar power plant (CSP) in operation in the world, is a breakthrough for renewable energy development and advanced technology, said Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and CEO of Masdar, at the opening ceremony.

“Shams 1 with a capacity of 100 megawatt which is now fully operational and connected to the grid will generate clean energy to power 20,000 homes in the UAE,’ said Al Jaber.

“With the demand for energy rising exponentially, the region is undergoing a major transformation in how it generates electricity. In fact, the Middle East is poised for major investments in renewable energy, and Shams 1 proves the economic and environmental advantage of deploying large-scale solar projects,” stressed Al Jaber.

Shams 1, a joint venture between Masdar (60 per cent), Total (20 per cent) and Abengoa Solar (20 percent), was designed and developed by Shams Power Company.

UAE President inaugurates Shams 1, region's largest concentrated solar power project | GulfNews.com

 

[Al Bhatti]

March 16, 2013

UAE solar plant boosts bid for green energy

Shams 1 experience will help Masdar bag more renewable energy projects in region

Shams 1, the world’s largest solar power plant located at Madinat Zayed with a capacity to generate 100 megawatts, will be inaugurated on Sunday.

Built at a cost of $600 million, Shams 1 will contribute towards Abu Dhabi’s target of achieving seven per cent renewable energy power generation capacity by 2020. Power demand in Abu Dhabi is growing rapidly and is expected to reach 20 gigawatts by 2020.

An industry source familiar with the developments told Gulf News on Saturday the plant was connected to the grid earlier this year and its capacity is currently being ramped up.

In an exclusive article to Gulf News, published in The Views on Sunday, Masdar CEO Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber said Shams 1 is a prime example of how solar energy can be a calculated investment in the country’s growth. “The development of renewable energy reduces the UAE’s dependency on a single source of energy, creates jobs, spurs economic growth, builds human capital and decreases the carbon footprint,” he wrote.

“With 100 highly specialised, full-time jobs needed to operate the facility, the UAE is training the next generation of Emiratis to excel in the rapidly evolving energy industry. Through this type of human capital development, the country is strengthening its competitive edge as a global energy pioneer,” Al Jaber wrote.

Al Jaber said local businesses are the direct beneficiaries of approximately Dh880 million for their role in designing, building and completing the project.

Al Jaber said Shams 1 will also help conserve and protect the environment as it will reduce 175,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually -- which is equivalent to planting 1.5 million trees or taking 15,000 cars off the road.

This project is expected to give Masdar a competitive edge in developing and investing in similar projects in the region.

“Jordan and Morocco have already signed framework agreements with Masdar to explore the possibilty of developing renewable energy capacities. Masdar also sees Saudi Arabia as a potential market, which has allocated $109 billion to develop 42 gigawatts of solar energy capacity by 2030,” the source added.

Last week, Yousuf Al Ali, general manager at Shams Power Company told Gulf News the Shams 1 venture would build a track record for Masdar for developing renewable projects that operate in harsh weather conditions, which includes dust, high temperature and strong seasonal winds.

UAE solar plant boosts bid for green energy | GulfNews.com

 

[acetophenol]

Gud job!

 

[Arabian Legend]

Nice work not only by UAE but also all GCC countries are heading in direction of clean and renewable means of energy. Saudi Arabia is also expected to be a world leader in exporting solar energy. less dependence on oil, healthy environment, more Oil to export.

 

[UKBengali]

Good to hear that the Gulf countries are using their abundance and massive capital to build solar capacity.

 

[Cyrus the Great]

MADINAT ZAYED, United Arab Emirates, March 17, 2013 (AFP) - Oil-rich Abu Dhabi on Sunday officially opened the world's largest concentrated solar power plant, which cost $600 million to build and will provide electricity to 20,000 homes.

The 100-megawatt Shams 1 is "the world's largest concentrated solar power plant in operation" said Sultan al-Jaber, the head of Abu Dhabi's Masdar, which oversees the emirate's plan to generate seven percent of its energy needs by 2020 from renewable sources.

Masdar now produces 10 percent of the world's concentrated solar power, he said during the official inauguration.

The solar park features long lines of parabolic mirrors spread over an area equivalent to 285 football pitches in the desert of the Western Region, some 120 kilometres (75 miles) southwest of Abu Dhabi.

UAE company owns 60 percent of the project, while France's Total and Spain's Abengoa Solar own 20 percent each.

Any idea where is come from this tech? Does UAE manufacture any parabolic mirrors or even solar panel? Please introduce the technology and technology provider(s) as well. I am a potential customer.

 

[United]

Any idea where is come from this tech? Does UAE manufacture any parabolic mirrors or even solar panel? Please introduce the technology and technology provider(s) as well. I am a potential customer.

Shams Power Company

Shams 1 is a beast of a project that is hard to capture in words or even pictures. To try to put it into perspective, though, the Masdar team writes that the power plant covers 2.5 km², which is equal to about 285 football fields, and that it can generate enough electricity to power 20,000 homes in the UAE.

 

[1ndy]

Green energy is the way to go, keep the good work up.

 

[Black Widow]

30,000 USD per home is not bad deal for clean energy... Good going...

 

[phylumchordata]

world's largest solar power plant is in Gujarat, India . This is world's largest concentrated solar powerplant which is a different approach from photovoltaic solar power generation.