Many countries depend on traditional energy sources such as coal, gas, and oil. However, this energy source emits carbon and contributes to global warming. Therefore, many countries are switching to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro. Renewable energy will positively impact humanity through increased access to power and health care and reduced air pollution.
UAE-based clean energy company Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has developed the UAE’s first wind farms across four locations with a total capacity of 103.5 megawatts (MW).
The UAE’s first wind farms project is-
- Cost-effective
- Large-scale
- Increasing the UAE’s energy mix and advancing its energy transition
The large size of the turbine, low hardware costs, and the discovery of a unique weather phenomenon that produced high winds at night made the project scalable and economically viable.
The UAE wind program has been inaugurated under the directives of the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
PowerChina was the main Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for the program, and GoldWind Group was the main equipment supplier.
The project is the first time the UAE has included utility-scale wind power in its energy mix. Energy generated by solar, nuclear, and waste-to-energy plants is already fed into the UAE’s national grid.
Wind power was previously unviable in the UAE due to low wind speeds. However, innovations in climate technology and UAE-led expertise made this possible.
As wind power is strongest in the UAE at night, it complements the country’s existing solar power generation, further diversifying the UAE’s renewable energy mix.
The UAE wind farm project is located at four locations, including a 45 MW wind farm and a 14 MWp solar farm on Abu Dhabi’s picturesque Sir Bani Yas Island. A 27MW wind farm at Delma Island in the historic pearl-diving center, Abu Dhabi. Another 27MW wind farm at Al Sila, Abu Dhabi, and finally, a 4.5MW wind farm at Al Halah, Fujairah. All four wind farms generate a total of 103.5 MW of clean energy.
The UAE wind program is expected to power 23,000 UAE houses annually. This will reduce carbon emissions by 120,000 tonnes, equivalent to removing more than 26,000 cars from the road every year.
According to The Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy, the UAE was recognized as the world leader in the use of solar energy.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “As the UAE’s flagship renewable energy company, this is an incredibly proud moment for Masdar. Today’s launch of the UAE’s first utility-scale wind program is the result of years of hard work and collaboration. “
“It would not have been possible without the vision and the unstinting support of the UAE’s leadership; we were able to pioneer cutting-edge technology to overcome the UAE’s low wind speeds and harness the power of this formidable natural resource. As we accelerate our path to Net Zero by 2050, the UAE wind program shows that anything is possible when you have a vision, passion, and a pioneering spirit.”
