UAE-based energy company Masdar has launched four wind farms with a total capacity of 103.5MW, as part of the UAE wind programme.
The project sites are Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi with 45MW of wind capacity and a 14MW solar farm, two 27MW wind farms on Delma Island and Al Sila in Abu Dhabi, and a 4.5MW wind farm at Al Halah in Fujairah.
The wind projects will generate enough clean energy to meet the needs of 23,000 UAE households annually, while displacing 120,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Low wind speeds had earlier made wind power an unfeasible option in the UAE, but bigger turbines, reduced hardware costs and the discovery of a weather phenomenon that produces high wind speeds at night have helped make wind energy projects scalable and feasible.
The latest move introduces utility-scale wind energy projects, helping to diversify the country's energy mix.
UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Al Jaber stated: “The UAE wind programme is a great source of national pride and a demonstration of Masdar’s ability to pioneer and implement innovations in wind and renewable energy technologies. More than twenty years ago, before Masdar was created, Sheikh Zayed, our founding father – someone who cared deeply about the environment – oversaw the completion of a wind turbine on Sir Bani Yas Island.
“As the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse, Masdar continues this legacy by supporting the nation’s vision as a global leader in sustainability and climate action as it unlocks the new potential of wind power. For a viable energy transition, the world must triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement goals. As we look forward to hosting COP28, today’s inauguration shows the UAE’s firm commitment to this target, boosting clean energy investments both at home and abroad.”
Chinese civil engineering company PowerChina was the main engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project. GoldWind, a Chinese wind turbine maker, served as the main equipment supplier.
