Abu Dhabi which holds more than 90% of the oil reserves of the United Arab Emirates announced they are going to be spending 350 million dollars on a 500 MW solar plant. Which to me seems like a typo, as that seems like A LOT of solar for only 350 million. But if they even produce 1/5th that much it will be one of the largest solar power plants in the world. If it’s not a typo, well that is going to be one hell of a big solar plant.
Quote:
The 500 megawatt plant, expected to begin operations in 2009, is part of Abu Dhabi’s drive to cut dependence on hydrocarbon power generation, said Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive of state-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co.
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The emirate eventually hopes to provide solar power to 10,000 homes and is setting up a special economic zone for the alternative energy industry, Jaber said.
“We … do not want to be 100 per cent dependent on (hydrocarbon power), Jaber said.
“We have an economic development programme dedicated to establishing an entirely new economic sector focused on alternative energy and sustainable technologies,” he said.
The plant will be the first of its kind in the Gulf, home to oil and gas producers who supply a fifth of the world’s energy needs, he said.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/gc06/...83822320070218