Floating solar attracts strong interest from land-poor states
Dubai nears floating solar debut
Both the emirate and neighbouring Abu Dhabi are considering the potential of the novel technology
State-owned Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa) received bids in mid-April for a contract to install the emirate’s first floating solar photovoltaic (PV) plant—two months after a private developer in neighbouring Abu Dhabi commissioned the first in the UAE as a whole. Offshore solar remains a fledgling industry worldwide but is gathering momentum. And land-poor, sun-rich Mid-East Gulf states have strong incentives for its adoption. The coincidence of the twin landmarks in the two biggest emirates, though incidental, is typical of their fruitful decade-old rivalry in chasing their own as well as federal clean energy targets—to the extent that both have become international leaders
Also in this section
18 February 2025
Demand for CCS to abate new gas-fired plants is rising as datacentres seek low-carbon power, Frederik Majkut, SVP of industrial decarbonisation, tells Carbon Economist
11 February 2025
Rising prices have added to concerns over CBAM impact on the competitiveness of EU manufacturing
7 February 2025
Norwegian energy company slashes spending on low-carbon sectors as transition decelerates
30 January 2025
The UAE’s oil and gas company puts its faith in technologies including CCS and AI to deliver its emission-reduction goals
