The city of Masdar in the UAE has unveiled the Shams 1 concentrated solar power plant in partnership with its partners, Total and Abengoa.
The project is a 100 MW solar thermal plant and is designed and developed by Shams Power.
At an estimated value of $600m, the project is claimed to be a major milestone in the development and deployment of renewable energy in the Middle East.
Masdar CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber remarked that the project will deliver to the region electricity that is sustainable, affordable and secure.
"Today, the UAE is the only OPEC nation delivering both hydrocarbons and renewable energy to the international market," highlighted Jaber
Abengoa CEO Santiago Seage added, "The abundance of solar energy is an opportunity to integrate sustainable, clean sources of power that address energy security and climate change. The region needs more projects like Shams 1, and we look forward to pushing the boundaries of future energy."
The project over 258,000 mirrors mounted on 768 tracking parabolic trough collectors and employs parabolic trough technology and will provide electricity for 20,000 households in the region.
Additionally, the solar project uses a booster to heat steam to increase the cycle’s efficiency and also includes a dry-cooling system that significantly reduces water consumption – a critical advantage in the arid desert of western Abu Dhabi.