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 US$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 possibility of developing renewable energy capacities. Masdar also sees Saudi Arabia as a potential market, which has allocated US$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. From Gulf News