ABU DHABI 27 May 2017: The world’s largest independent solar power plant to be built in the emirate of Abu Dhabi at a total cost of Dh3.2 billion, will be named “Noor Abu Dhabi,” which means “the light of Abu Dhabi” in Arabic, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, announced on Thursday.
The move is in line with the directive of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and orders from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said Wam.
The Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, Adwea, and a consortium of Japan’s Marubeni Corp and China’s JinkoSolar Holding signed a contract to build and operate the new plant, which will generate 1,177 megawatts from the second quarter of 2019. It will have double the capacity of the 550-megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, the current world’s largest solar power plant in California, United States.
The plant is 60 per cent owned by Adwea and the government of Abu Dhabi, and 40 per cent by the international consortium.
A ceremony was held on Wednesday, in the presence of Sheikhs and other VIPs, to launch the Noor Abu Dhabi solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, to be built in Suwaihan, 120 km south-east of the capital Abu Dhabi. It is part of the emirate’s bid to diversify its economy and provide alternative sources of energy at competitive prices while following the best possible environmental and technological practices.
By Rajive Singh