Context: Recently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has inaugurated the world's largest single-site solar power plant, the 2-gigawatt (GW) Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Independent Power Project (IPP).

• It is the world's largest single-site solar power plant ahead of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).

Key points

• The 2-gigawatt Al Dhafra Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Project (IPP) is located 35 kilometers from Abu Dhabi city and will generate enough electricity to power almost 200,000 homes.

• The plant is expected to displace 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The project was developed by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and its partners Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), EDF Renewables and JinkoPower.

• The project features almost 4 million bifacial solar panels.

• The project is still in its planning stage but, once operational, it will generate 2 GW of power, reducing the UAE's CO2 emissions by more than 3.6 million metric tons per year. That's the equivalent to removing around 720,000 cars from the roads.

• Currently, the world's largest solar plant is the 1.2 GW Noor Abu Dhabi project, which began operation in April 2019.

• The new Al Dhafra project will almost double the size of this existing site. The country will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference from November 30th to December 12 this year.

A Key Step in the UAE’s Transition to Clean Energy

• The inauguration of Al Dhafra Solar PV is a key step in the UAE’s transition to clean energy. The country has set ambitious goals to triple renewables capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030, with Al Dhafra serving as a model for global ambition in clean energy initiatives.

Alignment with UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Goal

• The project aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 goal, reinforcing its leadership in solar energy production on a per capita basis. The project is also a testament to the UAE’s commitment to hosting a successful COP28. The country will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference from November 30th to December 12 this year.