Abu Dhabi plans 2GW of additional PV solar capacity

Abu Dhabi is planning to develop two additional photovoltaic (PV) solar projects with a combined total capacity of 2GW in the coming years

Abu Dhabi is planning to develop two additional photovoltaic (PV) solar projects with a combined total capacity of 2GW in the coming years.

The plan to develop the PV plants were revealed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DOE) as one of the nine clean energy initiatives that the emirate is undertaking or planning which will help the UAE’s Net Zero By 2050 strategy.

The DOE announced the plans for the PV projects and other initiatives at the COP 26 event in Glasgow, UK.

The UAE initiatives include:

• 1.17GW Noor Abu Dhabi solar PV plant – commissioned in July 2019. Will save up to 1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
• 5.6GW Barakah nuclear power plant – first 1.4GW reactor was commissioned in April 2021. When fully commissioned, will avoid 21 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year
• 2GW Al-Dhafra PV solar plant – under development – will reduce 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Two additional solar projects with a combined capacity of 2GW and potential to avoid 2.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Two waste-to-energy plants in Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain expected to help reduce 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions