Newbase energy news covering the MENA by Energy expert Khaled Al Awadi

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NewBase 19 May 2014 Khaled Al Awadi
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Investments in clean energy has key role in lifting growth
Investments in clean energy can play a critical role in driving economic growth in Abu Dhabi’s
Western Region, home to Masdar’s Shams 1 concentrated solar plant, according to Yousif Al Ali,
General Manager of the Shams Power Company.
Also known as Al Gharbia,
the emirate’s Western
Region is the heart of the
UAE’s hydrocarbon industry.
But, according to Al Ali, it
has huge potential for the
generation of clean energy.
“Shams 1 is an example of
the significant investment
opportunities in clean
energy that exist in the area,
which in turn would help
stimulate the region’s wider
economic and social
development. With 365 days
of sunshine, and large tracts
of land available, Al Gharbia
is a natural location for large
scale solar energy projects,” said Al Ali. “Shams 1 has been a big success, since it began
producing electricity in 2013. The plant has consistently performed to its design parameters,
delivering electricity to 20,000 UAE homes, displacing 175,000 tons of CO2 per year.”
Abu Dhabi’s Western Region comprises 83 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s land mass, but it is home to
less than 10 per cent of the emirate’s population. It is rich in hydrocarbons and has a mix of
traditional industries including agriculture,
fishing and tourism. As part of the Abu Dhabi
2030 Plan, annual revenues from the region
are forecast to top AED 400 billion (US$100
billion), according to the official Al Gharbia
website.
Al Ali was speaking on the eve of the second
annual Al Gharbia Development Forum,
organized by MEED, which will take place on
May 20, at the St. Regis Hotel. — SG