Abu Dhabi Airports, the owner and operator of the emirate's five airports, and Masdar, one of the world's leading renewable energy companies have announced the completion of Abu Dhabi's largest solar-powered car park, which will save 5,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
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EWEC has several large-scale solar projects in the region, including the 2 GW Al Dhafra solar project in Abu Dhabi. Earlier this month, it put out a request for proposals for 1.5 GW of solar.
The world-leading project reflects the vision and commitment of the UAE leadership in driving socioeconomic and environmental progress. The accelerated integration of solar power and advanced battery energy storage sets a new benchmark in clean energy, driving sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
Masdar and Emirates Water and Electricity Co. (EWEC) plan to build a $6 billion, 5 GW/19 GWh solar-plus-storage project in Abu Dhabi, with operations set to start by 2027. Emirati state-owned renewable investment company Masdar is partnering with EWEC to build a giant solar and battery energy storage (BESS) facility.
Is Dubai a good place to invest in solar power?
The region does boast some of the world's most ambitious solar PV projects, such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, which has a planned 5GW generation capacity by 2030 from both solar PV and concentrated solar power (CSP).
The solar PV and BESS facility will provide unparalleled stability and efficiency by overcoming the intermittency challenges of renewable energy. The 19GWh battery storage facility will enable seamless integration of solar power into the grid.
Is the Middle East ready for battery storage?
The Middle East region, meanwhile, has been relatively slow in its adoption of battery storage versus more mature markets like China and the US but is predicted to rapidly catch up based on policy announcements such as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy.