The largest grid-connected solar power plant in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will become operational next month to power the construction of the capital’s Dh81 billion zero-carbon Masdar City.
The development will be a 10mw plant utilizing 87,777 solar photovoltaic panels spread over a 212,000 square meter site within the green city. The Dh185 million plant is the first phase of the city to be developed and the contract was awarded to Enviromena by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar).
"The installation of the panels is almost complete, as is the related work. We are on schedule to deliver this project on time, it will be fully operational next month and will be connected to the Abu Dhabi power grid," said Enviromena CEO Sami Khoreibi, who was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award by Future Fuels and Energies magazine at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference.
"The initial function of the plant will be to power the construction of Masdar City. It is the foundation stone of a city without any source of power that generates CO2 emissions. This is just the beginning. Solar is a potential source of energy in Abu Dhabi and the entire Mena region. We have been able to attract talent with tremendous solar experience from around the globe to come here to Abu Dhabi to form a team. Hopefully they will become the leading solar design group in the country and the region. The plan is to become a global competitor,” continued Khoreibi.