Solar power station in China in Abu-Dhabi

Currently, Abu Dhabi has installed a solar capacity of 1.3 GW. The major capacity shares of the total capacity come from the Noor Abu Dhabi (Sweihan) project with 1.17 GW capacity, whereas, the Shams solar CSP project gives its fair share of 100 MW. In addition, the Abu Dhabi virtual battery also contributed 108 MW to the region's solar capacity.

Ewec had previously said it expects initial power generation from the plant in the first half of 2022 and full generation by the second half of the year. Once fully operational, the plant will increase Abu Dhabi's total installed solar power capacity to about 3.2GW.

Rows of photovoltaic panels are forming an “energy oasis” in the desert of Abu Dhabi, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday.

The Al Dhafra PV2 solar power plant project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is now in full operation.

The total construction period will be about 22 months, CMEC added. The contract comes from EDF Renewables and Jinko Power. These two, together with Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, better known as Masdar, form the consortium that earlier in December announced financial close for the project.

The consortium comprises Abu Dhabi National Energy (Taqa), which will own 40% of the project; and Masdar, France's EDF and China's Jinko Power, which will each own 20%. The project reached financial close in December 2020, with seven international banks providing project financing.