UAE inaugurates first utility-scale wind parks

The United Arab Emirates has inaugurated its first utility-scale wind project with a capacity of 103.5 MW developed by Abu Dhabi-based renewables company Masdar and utilising technology to capture low wind speeds.

The project includes four wind parks located across Abu Dhabi and Fujairah -- a 45-MW wind farm combined with a 14-MWp solar park on Abu Dhabi's Sir Bani Yas Island, the Delma Island and Al Sila wind parks in Abu Dhabi each with a capacity of 27 MW, and a 4.5- MW facility in Al Halah, Fujairah.

This initiative is laying the groundwork for expanding the commercialisation of additional utility-scale projects in areas with low wind speeds and establishing a wind database, which will serve as the cornerstone for the UAE's next phase of development.

The UAE Wind Programme, as the four wind farms are known, is expected to supply clean power to over 23,000 homes annually, offsetting 120,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Local utility Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) will offtake the power from the three wind parks in Abu Dhabi totalling 99 MW under a power purchase agreement (PPA).

The inauguration comes ahead of the COP 28 summit which will be held from November 30 until December 12 in Dubai.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!