UAE minister: Solar power is our trump card when moving to clean energy

UAE minister: Solar power is our trump card when moving to clean energy

Just 35km from Abu Dhabi lies the world’s largest single-site solar plant. At the newly operational Al Dhafra Solar Plant (Al Dhafra PV), nearly four million solar panels spread across 20sqkm glitter in the sun, capturing enough energy to power more than 160,000 homes. It is a landmark achievement in the UAE’s plans to diversify its energy mix, and the latest milestone in a 15-year journey that has seen the country become a global leader in solar energy, and the second largest consumer for solar power per capita. Al Dhafra PV also represents a significant contribution to the UAE’s ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2050. Driven by large-scale investment, the country is well on track. To date, the UAE has committed more than $50 billion to renewable energy projects, both in the UAE and overseas. And in July 2023, the UAE announced plans to triple the country’s supply of renewable energy and invest up to $54 billion over the next seven years to meet its growing energy demands. These commitments are already paying off. By 2030, the UAE will triple its renewable energy capacity and increase its share of clean energy in the energy mix by 30 per