9% Of Dubai’s Electricity Now Comes From Clean Energy Sources
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced that the share of clean energy in Dubai’s energy mix has increased to around 9%. This exceeds the target set in the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aimed to provide 7% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy sources by 2020 and 75% by 2050. DEWA’s total installed capacity is 11,700MW of electricity. This includes 1,013MW from photovoltaic solar panels at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest solar park in the world. He also noted that the total capacity of the projects under construction at the solar park is 1,850MW from photovoltaic and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), with future phases to reach 5,000MW by 2030. DEWA recently signed the power purchase agreement for the 900MW 5th phase of the solar park with a consortium led by ACWA Power and Gulf Investment Corporation. The total investments of the project exceed AED 2 billion.
Oman starts its first utility-scale solar power plant
Petroleum Development Oman’s (PDO) landmark 100-megawatt Amin Photovoltaic Power Plant has now achieved a key milestone with the start of commercial operations, having been successfully commissioned three months ahead of schedule and passing the acceptance test procedures. The Independent Power Producer (IPP) renewable energy project, located near Nimr which lies approximately 300km northeast of Salalah, is providing power to PDO’s Interior operations as one of the world’s first utility-scale solar projects to have an oil and gas company as the sole buyer of electricity. Amin IPP is also the first utility-scale PV power plant in Oman and has one of world’s lowest tariff at the time of award for such a project, which spans 23 years.
NREA Plans to Implement 3,170 MW of Solar and Wind Projects In Egypt
The New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) recently announced the implementation of solar and wind projects, while various others are in process in Egypt. These projects have a combined capacity of 3,170 MW. These projects will help to improve access to electricity in Egypt. The projects under consideration are wind farms with a total capacity of 2,200 MW and solar power plants with a combined capacity of 970 MW, stated NREA. The Egyptian government aims to raise the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy production mix by 20% by 2022, with the possibility of doubling it by 2035.
Abu Dhabi Would Soon Install 2GW Solar Plant: Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi
Abu Dhabi would soon install a 2GW solar power plant in the Al Dhafra region. According to the UAE news agency, Wam the minister said.“This solar plant will eclipse the record-breaking 1GW Noor Abu Dhabi plant,” This was revealed after commercial operations began on Noor Abu Dhabi, an AED 3.2bn 1,177MW solar power plant . Noor Abu Dhabi has been built as part of the UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050. It was launched in 2017 to raise the contribution of clean energy in the country’s total energy mix to 50 percent by 2050.
Israel Announces US$22.8 billion Plan To Boost Solar Sector
Israel’s Energy Ministry revealed a US $22.8 billion plan with an aim to increase the use of solar power over the next decade due to the country’s population and energy demand may increase in future. Israel produces 5 percent of its electricity from solar energy and rest 64% from natural gas and the rest from coal. Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz stated that “The new target is to outpace rising demand and have solar power production grow to 30 percent by 2030, or about 16,000 megawatts.”
According to the plan at peak hours, more than 80% of Israel’s electricity will be generated by solar. In contrast by 2026 coal will be totally phased out. Most of the money will go into solar energy facilities to be built by the private sector while other costs include upgrading the national grid and investing in energy storage. This plan will help in reducing air pollution in Israel by 93% as compared in 2015 said the Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz.
Sterling and Wilson Solar Commissions 125 MW Solar PV Project in Oman
Sterling and Wilson Solar Limited announced that it has commissioned the operations of its maiden solar PV project in Oman. This is a major landmark in their journey as it becomes the first Indian company to commission a solar PV project in this region. SWSL had received the order from Amin Renewable Energy Company SAOC. The Amin Solar PV project is supported by the Japanese-Omani consortium designed by Marubeni Corporation, Oman Gas Company S.A.O.C., Bahwan Renewable Energy Company LLC and Nebras Power. The Amin solar project, with installed capacity of 125 MW (DC), is Oman’s first renewablesbased Independent Power Project (IPP). It is also the biggest single-unit solar park in the world to use bifacial modules, which generate less heat and can withstand the desert’s temperature fluctuations.
MEMR Cancels 30 MW Renewable Storage Scheme
The Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources (MEMR) has cancelled the tender for the first planned electrical storage project for renewable energy in Jordan. It is predicted that the decision to cancel the tender was made last year but was confirmed only recently.The electrical storage project was to be located in the Maan, Jordan. MEMR received proposals from ten of the 21 shortlisted bidders on 20 January 2019 which includes Alcazar Energy (UAE),Catalyst (US),Phelan Energy Group (South Africa)Masdar (UAE),Kawar Investments (local) / Abener Energia (Spain),Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia)Jinko Solar (China),Urbansolar (France) / Butec (Lebanon),Philadelphia Solar (Jordan)FRV (Spain / Saudi Arabia). Originally it pre qualified 23 groups to participate in the tender on 2nd January. The scope of work for this project includes the design, financing, construction, commissioning, and ownership and maintenance of the electrical storage facility. This project was planned to generate a capacity of 30MW with an energy capacity of 60MWh, which was to be primarily used for controlling photovoltaic solar and wind energy.
How Coronavirus will accelerate the growth of renewable energy solutions
As the COVID19 situation continues to develop across the globe with devasting effects on the economy and the population, experts have advised that the total impact of the escalating pandemic on the UAE economy will be offset by the increase in oil production. The oil industry will be reshaped due to the pandemic and 2019 could be the all-time peak of carbon dioxide emissions. As a result of the coronavirus, a sharp economic decline will cut greenhouse gas pollution, and even as the economy recovers, improved efficiency and the rise of low-carbon technology and sustainable energy solutions will continue to grow. Sharaf DG Energy aims to support residents of the UAE through difficult and uncertain times. Renewable solar energy solutions are very resilient to such a global shock as they are decentralised and located on the roof of an asset. Sharaf DG Energy recognises solar as the future of electricity generation and the key to conserving nature and building a fossil-fuel free world. A pandemic puts pressure on every part of a country’s economy and society and by enabling people to produce their own clean energy with solar, you are allowing them to stay in control of their energy consumption and bills by fixing their electricity tariff for the next 25 years. Solar allows certainty in a time where nothing is certain, in times of crisis when utility prices may rise and a sustainable energy solution such as solar gives customers a sense of reassurance. Sharaf DG Energy supports the UAE’s vision for sustainability, with the country already planning the next 50 years by placing sustainability at the core of the new strategy.
The Big 5 Solar Postponed to September 12-15, 2021
DMG events announces that their annual trade show, The Big 5, will next be held on 12-15 September 2021, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The new dates also apply to the specialised events that are staged alongside The Big 5 – The Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, HVAC R Expo, Middle East Stone, The Big 5 Solar, and the Urban Design & Landscape Expo. The decision to postpone this year’s event, scheduled on 23-26 November in Dubai, comes after a thorough consultation with key stakeholders groups in the wake of the effect of the coronavirus pandemic. The new dates are the closest possible enabling the global construction industry to come together for a successful trade event, and take into consideration a wide set of factors, most importantly the health, safety and convenience of all participants, the ease of travel, as well as the global events calendar for the industry.
