Masdar – Abu Dhabi's multi-faceted initiative advancing the development, commercialization and deployment of renewable and alternative energy technologies and solutions – has appointed the bidding consortium of Total and Abengoa Solar as partners to own, build and operate Shams 1.
According to Masdar, this will be the world's largest concentrated solar power plant and the first of its kind in the Middle East. Shams 1 will contribute to Abu Dhabi's target of achieving 7% renewable energy power generation capacity by 2020.
The joint venture between Masdar (60%), Total (20%) and Abengoa Solar (20%) will develop, build, operate and maintain the plant, which will be located in Madinat Zayed, 120 km southwest of Abu Dhabi.
Shams 1 will extend over an area of 2.5 square kilometers, with a capacity of approximately 100 MW and a solar field consisting of 768 parabolic-trough collectors to be supplied by Abengoa Solar. Construction is set to begin during the third quarter of this year and is expected to take approximately two years.
SOURCE: Masdar
