Overview
The 103.5-megawatt (MW) landmark project will introduce cost-effective, large-scale, utility wind power to the UAE’s electricity grid, further diversifying the country’s energy mix and advancing its energy transition. The project leverages advances in technology, material science and aerodynamics to capture low wind speeds at utility scale, paving the way for further projects.
The UAE Wind Program is expected to power more than 23,000 UAE homes a year. It will displace 120,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to removing more than 26,000 petrol-powered cars from the road annually.
The project spans four locations, including Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, where a 45MW capacity wind farm plus 14 MWp (megawatt peak) solar farm has been developed, expanding on existing wind power facilities on the island. The other wind farm locations include Delma Island (27MW), and Al Sila in Abu Dhabi (27MW), as well as Al Halah in Fujairah (4.5MW).
Previously, wind energy was not viable at utility scale due to low wind speeds in the UAE, but innovations within climate technology and UAE-led expertise have made power generation using wind possible. Larger turbines, lower hardware costs, and the discovery of a unique weather phenomenon that generates high winds at night, have made the UAE Wind Program project scalable and economically viable.
By working with global technology leaders and turbine manufacturers, the project is paving the way for the commercialisation of further utility scale, low-wind speed projects. The project is also creating a foundation of critical scientific wind data, which will form the basis of the UAE’s next phase of development.
Project Info
Technologies Used
Wind
Location
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Project Completion Year
2023
Status
Operational
