The Construction of the World’s Largest Solar Energy Plant is Underway in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is set to host a 5.2-GW solar farm, claiming the title of the world’s largest solar energy plant. However, this ambitious gigascale project will be developed by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Emirates Water and Electricity Company. It will also be the first solar photovoltaic plant globally to operate ’24/7,’ thanks to its integration with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

This means the solar plant will provide energy around the clock, even when the sun isn’t shining—24/7.

A Solar Plant Capable of Powering 750,000 Homes Daily

With its 5.2-GW solar capacity and 19-GWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the project will generate up to 1 GW of continuous power daily from solar panels, sufficient to power 750,000 homes.

How massive is this plant? According to the U.S. In fact, department of Energy, generating 1 GW of power typically requires about 1.887 million solar panels. Based on that estimate, Abu Dhabi’s 5.2-GW plant could need close to 10 million panels.

A Solar Farm Spanning Nearly 10,000 Football Fields

Now, let’s consider the space required. The Al Dhafra solar plant in Abu Dhabi, launched in November 2023, uses 4 million panels spread across 8.1 square miles (21 sq km). Following this scale, Masdar’s new project might need around 20.25 square miles (52.44 sq km) of land—excluding the space for the BESS. That’s equivalent to nearly 10,000 football fields.

Smart Energy Dispatch Around the Clock by 2027

The $6 billion project is scheduled for commissioning in 2027. According to Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, it will be “managed through a smart integrated solution” to ensure energy can be dispatched at any time, day or night.

With a capacity of 5.2 GW, the plant surpasses the 3.5-GW solar farm in China’s Xinjiang province, developed by Power Construction Corp of China, which held the title of the world’s largest solar farm as of June last year.

This new venture not only gives the UAE a significant claim to global recognition but also moves the nation closer to achieving its Net Zero by 2050 goal.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

Read more: An Interstellar Visitor May Have Shaped the Orbits in Our Solar System