MASDAR has appointed the bidding consortium of Total and Abengoa Solar as a partner to own, build and operate Shams One, the world’s largest concentrated solar power (CSP) plant and the first of its kind in the Middle East.

Masdar is Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted initiative advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable and alternative energy technologies and solutions.
Shams One, one of Masdar’s flagship projects, will directly contribute towards Abu Dhabi’s target of achieving seven per cent renewable energy power generation capacity by the year 2020.
The joint venture between Masdar (60 per cent), Total (20 per cent) and Abengoa Solar (20 per cent) will develop, build, operate and maintain the plant which will be located in Madinat Zayed, approximately 120 km southwest of Abu Dhabi in the UAE.
Shams One will be the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world, extending over an area of 2.5 sq km, 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 complete in approximately two years.
Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, said: “The launch of Shams One marks a very important milestone for Masdar and for Abu Dhabi. This project will be the UAE’s first utility scale, commercial solar power project.
“In addition, Shams One will allow Masdar to transfer to Abu Dhabi the know-how and expertise we have gained from our involvement in developing world-class renewable energy projects abroad, thus not only opening the door for renewable energy projects in the UAE but also for technology transfer, contributing towards the development of a knowledge-based economy and new job opportunities through the specialisations required to manage and operate the plant.”
“By participating in this ambitious project alongside Masdar and Abengoa Solar, Total develops its solar energy assets, enriches its portfolio of expertise with this first step in concentrated solar technology, and reaffirms its unique partnership with Abu Dhabi,” said Philippe Boisseau, president, Total Gas & Power.
Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar said: “We have teamed with the most qualified partners in the region, Total and Masdar, to own and operate what will be the most advanced solar plant, featuring our cutting-edge technology.”
Shams One is registered as a project under the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and is eligible for carbon credits. It is be the first CSP plant registered under the CDM and the second project registered for Masdar. The plant will displace approximately 175,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, equivalent to planting 1.5 million trees or removing 15,000 cars from Abu Dhabi’s roads.