The Abu Dhabi-based Masdar initiative has announced its plans to construct a 10MW solar power plant in the Middle East area, which will be the first and largest grid-connected solar photovoltaic plant in the Middle East and North Africa region. The plant will consist of 50% crystalline modules and 50% thin-film modules, which, it was announced today, are to be supplied by First Solar.
Construction on the Dh185 million (~$50M) project is underway and is scheduled for completion by the end of the second quarter of 2009. The PV plant will power the construction activities in Masdar City and the Masdar Institute, which opens in late 2009, while any surplus energy generated will be connected to the Abu Dhabi grid.
The plant is being designed and constructed by Abu Dhabi-based solar power system integrator Enviromena Power Systems. There are 87,777 thin-film and crystalline silicon panels being used in the development, half of which will be supplied by First Solar, with the remainder being supplied by an as-yet-unnamed crystalline module provider.
“Enviromena is very excited to be working with world-class suppliers such as First Solar on this groundbreaking project in Abu Dhabi. We look forward to working with First Solar on future projects in the region,” said Sami Khoreibi, President and CEO of Enviromena Power Systems.