UAE’s solar sector shines bright

At a time when the need for clean energy is felt across the globe, the UAE’s model for sustaining a green economy based on environmental sustainability is a trendsetter, commented a UAE daily.

In an editorial on Wednesday, The Gulf Today said, "The UAE has seen rapidly rising electricity consumption at an annual rate of 5% over the past five years, propelled by strong economic activity, a rising population and industrialisation.

"Solar power has the potential to provide most of the country’s electricity demand. Thanks to strong governmental support, the solar sector is now shining brightly," added the editorial comment.

As per a report by the Energy Research Department of the Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation, APICORP, the UAE has a nationwide strategy that has a target of reaching 50% clean energy by 2050. Solar power features heavily in its plans and is expected to account for 25% of the generation mix once a 5GW solar park is fully commissioned in 2030.

According to APICORP’s estimates, the UAE needs to invest at least $35 billion to meet the 17GW addition to capacity that is needed over the medium term. The diversification efforts have already born fruit, with at least 10.4GW of new capacity already under execution.

Abu Dhabi’s Barakah nuclear power plant will see four reactors come on line before 2020, contributing 5.6GW in total and representing 41% of new capacity between 2017 and 2023. Gas and coal will represent 21% and 18%, respectively, while solar PV and CSP projects are expected to account for 20 per cent of the UAE’s new capacity.

The first local concentrated solar power project, costing $600 million, was the 100MW Shams CSP plant in the Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi, which has been operational since 2014.

In Dubai, the 13MW Phase I of the Dubai Solar Park was the first PV project completed in 2013. The 200MW Phase II came online in early 2017. Phase III was awarded to a consortium led by Masdar earlier this year with plans to bring 800MW on line by 2020.

"In effect, the UAE’s journey towards clean energy offers a sparkling model for other countries to draw important lessons from," concluded the Sharjah-based daily.