DUBAI: Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and one of the world’s leading oil producers, has awarded a contract for the 1.5-gigawatt (GW) Khazna Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Plant to French energy giant Engie in partnership with Emirati renewable energy leader Masdar.
According to the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), the Khazna Solar PV project will comprise nearly three million solar panels and is expected to offset more than 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Once operational, it will generate enough clean energy to power approximately 160,000 homes across the emirate.
Engie and Masdar will jointly develop, construct, and operate the project under a long-term agreement to supply electricity to EWEC. While the project timeline has not yet been disclosed, an Engie executive confirmed that Khazna will be the largest solar power plant ever undertaken by the company worldwide.
EWEC said the Khazna project marks another milestone in Abu Dhabi’s clean energy transition, bringing the emirate closer to its target of 18GW of solar power generation by 2035. The UAE aims to meet 60 percent of its total energy demand from renewable sources within the same period.
“This landmark project will be a strategic asset that significantly accelerates our journey towards achieving the UAE’s renewable energy targets,” said Ahmed Ali Alshamsi, CEO of EWEC.
Despite being a major oil exporter, the UAE continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio, investing heavily in solar and wind projects both domestically and abroad as part of its long-term commitment to sustainability and climate leadership.
