UAE Launches First Wind Farms in Net-Zero Push
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched its first wind energy program as part of its efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and diversify its energy mix. The program, which was developed by Abu Dhabi clean energy company Masdar, includes a 103.5 megawatt wind project across four locations, including a 45-megawatt wind farm on Sir Bani Yas Island.
On behalf of the UAE President, Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has inaugurated the UAE Wind Program. Developed by Masdar, the project furthers strengthens decarbonisation efforts and accelerates progress towards achieving UAE net zero emissions by 2050. pic.twitter.com/nwEDRxMX5u
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Other wind farm locations include Delma Island (27MW), Al Sila in Abu Dhabi (27MW) and Al Halah in Fujairah, which can produce 4.5MW of electricity.
The UAE wind program also includes a 14-megawatt peak (MWp) solar farm on Sir Bani Yas Island. The program is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 23,000 homes a year, displacing 120,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to removing more than 26,000 cars from the road annually.
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“The UAE wind programme is a great source of national pride and a demonstration of Masdar’s ability to pioneer and implement innovations in wind and renewable energy technologies,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President-designate and chairman of Masdar.
“For a viable energy transition, the world must triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement goals. As we look forward to hosting Cop28, today’s inauguration shows the UAE’s firm commitment to this target, boosting clean energy investments both at home and abroad,” said Dr Al Jaber, also the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.
The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) has signed a power purchase agreement with Masdar for the electricity generated from the wind projects. PowerChina was the main engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the program, and GoldWind Group, a Beijing-based company, was the main equipment supplier.
The project marks the first time that the UAE has added utility-scale wind power to its energy mix.