Masdar launches Concentrated Solar Power plant

Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s future energy company, has launched the first concentrated solar power project of the United Arab Emirate.
 
Construction of the 100MW capacity plant is scheduled to begin this year, and will be located in Madinat Zayed, approximately 150 kilometres south west of Abu Dhabi, near Liwa Oasis. The plant will be operational in 2012.

Commenting on the launch Hélène Pelosse, Interim Director-General of IRENA said: “This project is symbolic for the region. It marks a vital first step in the transition towards renewable energies.”
 
The technology – which is ideally suited to the regional climate - works by using parabolic mirrors to direct sunbeams towards tubes filled with fluids. These fluids then transfer heat to water, which in turn vaporizes and activates turbines, in order to produce electricity.

The project marks a step towards the realisation of Abu Dhabi’s target of generating 7% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2020. “This is an ambitious target for a country which until now, has relied completely on fossil fuels,” added Pelosse.