Wind Energy

Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Shams 1 
65% complete

Abu Dhabi’s first mega solar power generation plant, Shams 1, which is being constructed in Madinat Zayed in the western region is almost 65 per cent complete and expected to go into commissioning towards the end of the year, a senior official said.

The 100 megawatt Concentrating Solar Power plant is ‘progressing well’ said Bader Saeed Al Lamki, Director Masdar Carbon, in an interview with Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit.

An independent solar power plant, it will is owned, developed, built and operated and maintained by a joint venture led by Masdar, which owns a lion’s share of 60 per cent, while the rest will be shared between France’s energy giant Total and Spanish Abengoa Solar.

Consisting of a solar field with 768 parabolic trough collectors spread over an area of 2.5 square kilometers, the project is located 120 kilometres southwest of the capital.

The plant represents a major step forward in the region toward the greater integration of sustainable energy sources in an energy market that is dependent on the hydrocarbons.

Power generated will be sold to Abu Dhabi Water and Power Authority under a long term electricity sales. The plant will displace approximately 175,000 metric tonnes of CO2 per annum, which is equivalent to planting 1.5 million trees or removing 15,000 cars from Abu Dhabi roads.

www.khaleejtimes.com