ABU DHABI'S SOLAR PLANT 2GW
MEU - Sep 16, 2019 - Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) has revealed that construction work on the 2,000MW solar plant in Al Dhafra region is under way, with the photovoltaic (PV) power project expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2022 taking Abu Dhabi's solar capacity to 3,200MW.
The construction update was revealed by the chief executive officer of Ewec, Othman Al Ali, as Ewec hosted Portugal's secretary of state for energy, Joao Galamba, who visited Noor Abu Dhabi.
During his visit, Galamba was briefed about the 1,777MW solar power plant — one of the world's single largest solar projects — and was updated on the upcoming construction of the 2,000MW solar plant, that was announced by the UAE's Minister of Climate Change and Environment, HE Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, at the Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting in July 2019.
Speaking about the Noor Abu Dhabi plant, Al Ali said: "Over 3,000 workers were involved at Noor Abu Dhabi to help us in our mission to provide clean, reliable and efficient solar energy to the UAE's electricity grid."
He added: "As our programme continues to advance, particularly with construction underway at our Al Dhafra project, this is a role we take on with great pride and responsibility, and as always, energy security remains our overriding priority."
According to the UAE's state-held news agency, Wam, the Al Dhafra project forms a part of Ewec's long-term strategy, which has been approved by the higher committee for the water and electricity sector in Abu Dhabi.
Once completed, the project site will cover an area spanning approximately 20km2 — doubling the capacity of Noor Abu Dhabi's single-site solar PV plant.
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