The UAE unveiled a groundbreaking wind power programme on Thursday, with the potential to provide energy for over 23,000 homes every year.
Managed by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, the 103.5-MW initiative is expected to counteract 120,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. This reduction is comparable to taking more than 26,000 gasoline vehicles off the streets each year.
The UAE Wind Programme was formally inaugurated by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, on Sir Bani Yas Island, representing His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President.
Spanning across four distinct sites, the programme includes Sir Bani Yas Island, which houses a 45MW wind farm and a 14MWp solar farm, along with Delma Island (27MW), Al Sila in Abu Dhabi (27MW), and Al Halah in Fujairah (4.5MW).
Sheikh Khaled also oversaw the signing of a power purchase accord between Ewec and Masdar during the launch event, marking a significant step in Ewec’s green energy journey.
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, expressed immense national pride in the initiative, recollecting the region’s history of wind energy, which dates back over two decades. He emphasized the necessity to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 in alignment with the Paris Agreement targets, affirming the UAE’s commitment to this objective.
Historically, the UAE faced challenges in harnessing wind energy due to the region’s low wind speeds. However, recent technological advancements combined with unique high nighttime wind occurrences have now made large-scale wind projects feasible in the country.
This wind programme not only augments the UAE’s solar power capabilities, given that wind strength peaks during nighttime, but also reinforces the nation’s commitment to diversifying its renewable energy sources.
“The launch of the UAE’s inaugural utility-scale wind project is testament to our persistent efforts and vision,” commented Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar.