Located in the United Arab Emirates, the Al Dhafra Solar Farm is made up of 4 million solar panels. It will be able to supply 160,000 homes.
A few days before the opening of COP 28 which is being held in Dubai (from November 30 to December 12), the United Arab Emirates announced the commissioning of the largest solar farm in the world.
Located in the desert 35 km from the capital of Abu Dhabi, the Al Dhafra power plant has a capacity of 2 gigawatts which can power 160,000 homes. Its 4 million double-sided mobile solar panels extend over a total area of 20 square kilometers. This solar farm is the result of an international collaboration involving EDF Renewables and the Chinese company Jinko Power Technologie. Emirati operators TAQA and Masdar own 60% of the project.
UAE aims for carbon neutrality by 2050
According to the operator, the Al Dhafra solar farm will eliminate more than 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year. The United Arab Emirates intends to triple its renewable energy production capacity to reach 14 GW by 2030 and is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. But at the same time, the country which is one of the main exporters The oil company plans to increase its production by three to five million barrels of crude per day by 2027.
A paradox which fuels the controversy surrounding the holding of COP 28 in Dubai. Indeed, the international UN climate conference which brings together 70,000 participants will be chaired by the Minister of Industry Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber who happens to be the general director of Masdar, but also of Adnoc, the most major oil company in the United Arab Emirates. A choice which sparked a wave of protests among defenders of the environmental cause and political leaders.
Controversy surrounding COP 28 in Dubai
For young climate activist Greta Thunberg, who considers the COPs to be greenwashing machines, the decision to entrust the presidency of this event to Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber is “ completely ridiculous “.
Several objectives have been set for this COP 28, in particular to accelerate the transition to renewable energies and to guarantee financing for the poor countries most affected by climate change by the most polluting rich countries.
Source : Electrek
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