Masdar?s Shams 1 concentrating solar thermal power plant to start by Q3 2012

Masdar, the Abu Dhabi government- owned renewable energy company, will start operating its 100- megawatt Shams 1 concentrated solar thermal power plant by the third quarter of 2012, according to the director of Masdar Power.

The company is awaiting consent from Abu Dhabi’s executive council to build the 100-megawatt Noor 1 photovoltaic solar energy plant, Frank Wouters said at a conference in Dubai today. Masdar is “about” to award a contract to build a 30-megawatt wind farm on Sir Bani Yas island, he said.

Masdar plans Shams 2 and Noor 2 concentrated solar power projects to help meet Abu Dhabi’s goal of obtaining 7 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2020, although these plants are yet to be approved, Wouters said.

www.masdar.ae